Ephemeral Euphoria is a musical representation of the bittersweet feeling, specifically, the feeling of bittersweet love.
Ephemeral is defined as something that lasts for only a short period of time, while euphoria is defined as an intense state of happiness. I felt that when put together, these two words created a title that encapsulated the bittersweet feeling.
I have long felt that bittersweet is the most powerful of emotions due to its inherent tension. This piece was inspired by the conflict between euphoric joy and the knowledge that it cannot or will not last forever.
Throughout this piece this emotion is portrayed through simple consonances, which are disrupted by passing dissonances, ethereal textures, emotional swells, and large climaxes that quickly fade to nothing.
Ephemeral Euphoria was premiered by the United States Air Force Band under conductor Jennifer Hepp as part of the National Band Associations Young Composer and Conductor Mentorship Program.
