Ghost Trajectories is inspired by the twin processes of remembering and forgetting. Some time ago I became fascinated and frustrated with the way my thoughts would bounce around, seemingly entirely out of my control. A simple event like a rustling piece of paper would leave persistent echoes and traces in my mind that would decay only slowly, and it often seemed that the memory of an event would be far more powerful than the event itself. This insight into my mental landscape led me to attempt to depict this landscape musically. The resonance of instruments like the piano, harp and vibraphone seemed like an appropriate metaphor -- after a note is struck, its sound continues, but its persistence and decay are out of our control. The violin and winds mimic this process by playing repeating figures that trail off in volume and are passed, echo-like, back and forth between the various instruments. The piece explores both chaotic, dense textures (when the mind is overwhelmed by thoughts and memories), and more meditative moments permeated by silence (when the mind is clear and lucid).

Recorded at Brevard Music Center in July, 2007. Jeremy Benson, flute; Dana Howell, clarinet; Hart Linker, alto saxophone; Paul Kim, violin; Lucy Haslar, harp; Scott Crawford, percussion; Justin Kothenbeutel, piano