The Result of Half a Bachelors in Composition | Full Junior Composition Recital | Owen Axelberd

Huge thanks to all involved in making this recital possible! Mixon Hall, Oct 25, 2026 Performers: Abigail Tidlow-Tranel - Mezzo Soprano Joyee Wang - Piano Owen Axelberd - Mandolin Wyatt Knutson - Double Bass Ruben Shonik - Percussion Alex Karstedt - Trombone 1 Devin Spaulding - Bass Trombone Gabe Nieman - Trombone 2 Matthew Shoykhet - Trombone 3 Timothy Pinkerton - Violin 1 John-Paul Hernandez - Violin 2 Blake Armstrong - Viola Kai Bowen - Cello Costco Songs I. Entrance: 0:00 II. Rotisserie Chicken and Free Samples: 0:51 III. A Lament for the Churro: 2:32 IV. Laundry Aisle 5:25 V. Food Court 7:15 Digital Sawdust: 8:46 Sweet Crucible: 13:13 The Perseverance of Job I. Upright: 23:26 II. Losses; a Blessing: 28:44 III. Sitting in Ash: 35:10 IV. Awestruck: 41:23 V. Restoration: 45:03 Program Notes: Costco Songs: Costco Songs, featuring text by Abigail Tidlow-Tranel, takes the listener on a wondrous journey through the titular wholesale retailer. The work begins with a brisk schubertian lied depicting the excitement and anticipation one feels when approaching the store. As we enter we are met with the tantalizing rotisserie chicken and free samples. These goods beckon us to the alluring rhythms of the tango. This is interrupted by a pang of sorrow. The memory of the beloved churro calls us to sing a dirge-like lament in its honor. (Though, let it be known that, as of writing these notes, it is back for a limited time.) Afterwards, we seek to escape our sorrows by surrounding ourselves with the blissful scents of the laundry aisle. We float along this fragrant river to a gently rocking barcarolle. Finally, brought back to the food court, we pay our due respects. We see the glorious price tag of the majestic all-beef hotdog and marvel at its affordability. It is here, with spirits uplifted, we end our journey. Digital Sawdust: Digital Sawdust is a musical picture of our cultural air saturated by technological fallout. The separation between our “natural” lives and our digital lives has increasingly blurred over time. The work depicts this by presenting two musical strains: one inspired by EDM and internet culture, the other by bluegrass and the blues. At times these styles are contrasted, at others they are blended. As you listen, consider what these strains may be saying to each other, where might they be agreeing and disagreeing, and who dominates by the end. Sweet Crucible: Sweet Crucible is about purification. As the piece progresses the quartet goes from playing similar, yet disunited lines. Additionally, the different mutes on each instrument create the impression of unrefined metal ready for its dross to be melted off. This melting comes as the percussion enters and leads the ensemble. The members of the quartet rotate through solos and duos imitating the rhythms of the percussionist. Ultimately, when the “melting” finishes, the quartet finally plays as a truly unified whole, both rhythmically and timbrally. This work speaks to the necessity of moments which melt us, and yet also refine us into maturity. The Perseverance of Job: This quartet, while not strictly programmatic, is based on the biblical story of Job. The form of the piece follows that of the story. It starts with an expositional first movement, followed by an intense destructive second movement, a desolate and sorrowful third movement, an awe-inspiring fourth movement, and finally, a celebratory fifth movement. Throughout the piece I reuse much of the melodic material from the first movements and simply change the context it finds itself in. Additionally many important lines were given to the viola, which I choose to loosely be representing Job.