Thaw is a 3-movement work composed for Akropolis by Becky Turro, commissioned by Connecticut Summerfest, the first in a trilogy of new pieces we premiered at the Hartt School in June 2018.

Thaw is inspired by a trip Becky and her girlfriend took to Acadia National Park, Maine in early March. Each movement is about a specific part of Acadia they encountered during their time in the national park. The first movement, “Hyperborea,” was inspired by Cadillac Mountain, seen in the aftermath of a snowstorm that arrived on their first day there. The second movement is titled “Echo Lake,” which is also a place within Acadia. This movement begins with a smooth, frozen texture that slowly thaws and melts away as the sun comes out. The third movement, titled “Kaleidoscope Cove,” is the most flowing and bright, and characterizes the ocean dancing and crashing against the orange cliffs. Chronologically, the movements move from frozen to melted, thawing into the arrival of spring.

Thank you, Becky, for a beautiful new piece and a fabulous addition to the reed quintet repertoire!