Watchtower Syndicate (2013) is a piece that combines serialistic processes with emotional outbursts. The overall form of the piece is ABA’ focusing on serialization in the A sections contrasting with the sad, angry, and submissive B section. Processes are generally begun in one voice and then passed to another where they receive further serialization but do not return to the original voice. This is seen particularly well in the A’ section where the piano introduces each new idea before it is passed onto a different voice. The two A sections also contrast each other in a tonic-dominant (I-V) relationship. The overall piece is meant to represent the machine (A sections) versus man (B section) conflict and the idea of mechanical precision against emotional excessively. This piece was premiered by the NewEar Ensemble with special guest, Chicago-based violist Michael Hall in 2013 at the University of Missouri-Kansas City Summer Workshop 2013.
