Hannah Lash (1981-Present)

Introduction
Hannah Lash is a American composer who was born in 1981. Her music is regarded as being “striking and resourceful…handsomely brooding,”. She obtained her Ph.D in composition from Harvard and has taught in a few locations including Harvard and Yale. This interesting compositional style she creates has been recognized all over the United States and even internationally, as well. She has commissioned pieces for The Fromm Foundation, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, American Composers Orchestra, The Naumburg Foundation, The Orpheus Duo, The Howard Hanson Foundation’s Commissioning Fund, Case Western Reserve’s University Circle Wind Ensemble, MAYA, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Arditti Quartet, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival and the Aspen Music Festival and School, and so many other that it is hard to list them all. Her pieces have won her many awards

Work Analysis
The specific piece of Lash's that I wanted to look into was "C". Lash states specifically about this piece that: "C is a piece about the expansion of material in a motor-like, additive process. Its anchor and beginning are the C-octaves, which spin out of the rest of the material in relentless perpetual motion." This piece is for an interesting combination of Xylophone and Piano. This minimalist styles composition has a lot of characteristics of minimalist music that we know like the constant repetition of certain lines. It is a very pleasing listen because the two instruments timbres are very similar so it blurs the line of what the piano is playing and what the xylophone is playing. The piece overall is very mesmerizing but at the same time it is so compelling and interesting that it keeps you on your toes the entire time, waiting to see how the piece will vary next.

Comparisons
I would compare this specific piece to the minimalist music of Steven Riech. It has that characteristic that definite Reich's music of the consistent repetition with slight variations along the way. The piece develops socially overtime but only slight changes occur as the piece goes on. The same compelling nature of Lash's music is present in Reich's music, which makes sense as to why I enjoy the minimalist style so much. The pieces that these composer make are just so fun and lighthearted and are not trying to overwhelm the listener with sounds. It is a refreshing break from the busy music that characterizes a lot of atonal music.

Observations
I really enjoyed this piece, the simple idea of everything being based around C is so simple but he development of that specific idea makes it so much more that just a meaningless piece. It is that complex simplicity that makes minimalist styles of music so appealing to my ears and personal aesthetic. What I have learned from this is more of my personal style and what I like in music.