Scent Variations

Written for members of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Scent Variations is a string quintet depicting various smells through a short set of variations. Ranging from the pleasant smell of rain to the biting harshness of smoke, this quintet captures the very essence of the depicted odors through colorful timbres and playful rhythms, all underpinning a reaching and lyrical theme.

Beginning with a blossoming introduction to the theme, the piece moves seamlessly into Petrichor, which brings out the nostalgic and calming emotions that follow rainfall. Sulfur sours the mood with harsh dissonances and an emphasis on pizzicato. In contrast, Espresso Martini brings the senses to a jazz club, complete with a walking bass line and swung rhythms. Finally, the piece ends with Acrid Smoke, an unrelenting fugue that constantly shifts, breaking apart and forming together again, before dissipating as quickly as it started.