Eat Your Damn Vegetables

This piece reflects on the process of convincing yourself to do difficult things that are actually good for you. Various musical extremes (high and low; busy and sparse; loud and soft; wide and narrow) are juxtaposed to represent the stark difference between how this kind of internal conflict makes us feel, and how we appear to others. Eventually, the relentless intensity breaks down into a heaving mess and exhausts itself of energy.

Composed for Ensemble Offspring's 2021 Hatched Summer School and premiered on 17 December 2021 at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Difficulty: ★★★★★
The syncopation, melodic agility and independent parts are suitable for tertiary students or professional ensembles.