Ravish and Mayhem

From her website:

“Composition, I find, is much like cooking: it’s all about proportion, balance, and the interplay of contrast and unity. But at the end of the day, no matter how complex your ideas are, how innovative your dish is, it still has to taste good.…The inspiration for Ravish and Mayhem came to me randomly while driving on a long trip some years ago. Perhaps highway hypnosis forced my brain to create some sort of entertainment, but nevertheless I was taken by the vivacity and virtuosity of what I heard. The image that stuck in my head was that of a bacchanal-esque Arabian street festival, and I sought to encapsulate that energy into the piece through the triumphant fanfares and lively folk-style melodies that are presented throughout. I imagine a person traveling from scene to scene, witnessing wild dancers, street performers, and amorous couples until the elephants arrive to announce the grand finale. This arrangement for full orchestra was created after the piece’s premiere at the 2012 Mizzou New Music Festival by Alarm Will Sound.”

Berg has composed orchestral works, chamber works, and electronic music. She also enjoys a rich instrumental career, performing on clarinet, E-flat clarinet, bass clarinet, and saxophone.