Camila Agosto
Composer · Interdisciplinary Artist
Paracusia I, II, III
2018-
For solo saxophone and live electronics
Paracusia is an ongoing multi-piece collaboration for saxophone(s) and live electronics created by Camila Agosto and Justin Massey. The performer represents a character that is trapped within a reverberation room. Over the course of the movements, the performer navigates the audience through their experience as they slowly lose their ability to interact with their outside world. Each movement represents a different step along their journey, exposing the unique sonic landscape of the different instruments within the saxophone family and their connection with the integrated electronics.
The memory of water
2018-
For solo singing violist and live electronics
The Memory of Water is an ongoing collaborative project between myself and violist/poet Martine Thomas, featuring solo viola and live electronics. Inspired by the original texts written by Martine, this work explores the intersection between live composition, improvisation, and poetry. From a series of in-depth exploratory sessions, Martine and I were able to discover a collection of sounds related to the narrative within her text which forms the basis of our sonic environment. In performance, through a combination of live composition and guided improvisation, we are able to deeply explore each sound and bring this environment off the page.
More to come soon!
The Memory of Water was partially premiered by Martine Thomas during the Ensemble Evolution ARCade at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity July 2019.
imprint
2017
For flute, cello, and multi-media
35 minutes
imprint is a reflection on human fragility, vulnerability, and raw emotional experiences. It focuses specifically on how we perceive those who do not fit the ideal image that our societal standards have created in this late capitalist environment. The two musicians represent two characters who shed their self-imposed, easy-to-digest packaging, in order to expose their true natures to one another, while exploring the idea that all of our experiences are in some way imprinted on our skin in the way we lead our lives, and in our interactions with others.
Throughout the work, the two characters explore extremely fragile and unpredictable sounds that expose the intricate natures of their instruments, while revealing the negative impacts of their experiences on their emotional, psychological, and physical states. Within the work there are elements of subtle theatricality in both the recitation of text by the performers and their physical gestures throughout the piece. The texts explore themes of the precarious and vulnerable nature of relationships that play into our everyday lives and how they impact our psychological welfare. This staging is intentionally designed as a commentary on the way in which people interact in society. Two people, looking at one another, interacting over a brief period of time, without truly seeing the other person.
This work was premiered by Berrow Duo on May 17, 2018 at EMP Collective in Baltimore, MD, alongside video projection designed by Bryan Funk and art installations created by Robin Marquis.
C.V.
2017
For 4 performers, found objects, and tape
15-30 minutes
C.V. explores the emotional and psychological relationship between a being and their psyche at the end stage of their life through navigating the themes of the Id, Ego, and Superego. Each performer represents a different character that explores this relationship through their improvisations and interactions with one another. Over the course of the piece, each character packs away their found objects into a black box, much like one would pack away the contents of a person’s life after they pass. These objects represent a summary of this person’s life; the stages and milestones they went through and the experiences that left a great impact on their life and others.
As a performer of a new music ensemble that focuses on improvisation, I sought to create landmarks for performers to exist within as they explore the sonic possibilities of their objects, and their interactions with one another, the pre-recorded tape, and projected media that ultimately guides their progression through the piece.
This work was premiered by members of M.I.E., Jeffrey Klein, Zachary Merkovsky, Steven Ridge, Kevin Brown, and Camila Agosto at Montclair State University (April 22, 2017).
Tangent
2015
For six violas or viola subset and electronics
6 minutes
As a violist, I was intrigued with the idea of creating a work that celebrated the musical capabilities of the viola. Luckily, at the time this piece was written and performed, I had six other violists in my studio and so it became a viola choir piece. Tangent initially began as a meditation on my compositional process. I often let thoughts drift off and in that space I am able to find sounds, textures, and melodies that pull my focus. Ideally this work would be performed by 6 live violas. However, there are several alternate instrumentations available for a subset of this ensemble to perform with accompanying tape.
After the initial premiere of this work, I was able to collaborate with graphic design artist, Ramzi Husein, on creating projected media to accompany the music (seen in above picture). This collaboration sparked my growing interest in creating projects that combine my work with multi-media.
This work was premiered by Violists Jonathan Echevarria, Ivan Mendoza, Johnathan Batchelder, Kayli Roderick, and Camila Agosto at Montclair State University (December 2015).
Performed by Anna Heflin, Nelson Moneo, Martine Thomas, Lauren Siess, Kyle Armbrust, and Giancarlo Latta at the Canadian Premiere in Banff, Alberta July 2017.
Performed by Kayli Roderick, Darryl Manley and Camila Agosto with Recorded tape by Johnathan Batchelder and Ivan Menodza. Multi-media by Ramzi Husein. Saturday April 22, 2017
For Bb Clarinet and Electronics
2015
For Bb clarinet, tape, and sine waves
20 minutes
For Bb Clarinet and Electronics depicts an aspect of the compositional process that occurs in my mind as I write. As the live performer continues through the piece, various pre-recorded Bb clarinet parts spiral around them; weaving in and out of their lines to create a cacophony of sounds. With all of the activity both on the page and in the performance, it is up to the audience to determine what is really happening in front of them and what is happening behind the scenes.
This work was premiered by clarinetist Eric Umble at the Firehouse Space in Brooklyn, NY (November 6, 2016).