Samuel Mutter_"Crois-tu en l'existence de l'âme?" (2024)_Premiere Performance

"Crois-tu en l'existence de l'âme?" (2024) Premiered on May 15th, 2024 in the Conservatory Performance Space as part of the Bard Sinfonietta Project's Spring 2024 Composer Showcase Concert.
Special thanks to all the performers for their incredible work in bringing this piece to life!
Manar Hashmi, conductor
Eliza Karpiak, flute
Drew Frankenberg, clarinet
Sophia Cornicello, piano
Hank Zhang, violin
Mikhal Terentiev, viola
Andres Perez Rangel, cello
Aidan Young, double bass
Program Notes:
Claude Vivier (1948 - 1983), a composer of profound musical and poetic creations asked “Glaubst du an die Unsterblichkeit der Seele“ (“Do you believe in the immortality of the Soul?”). This was the title of his final (and unfinished) work. Though the music itself has a lot to say and was moving to me in many ways, the title of the piece is what inspired this project. I had no answer to the titular query, just more questions.
Do I believe in the immortality of the soul?
Do I even believe in the existence of a soul?
I have found the concept of the soul absolutely fascinating. It is an idea that has been around in all cultures in one form or another for all of human history. It has been defined in many different ways. Frequently, I have found that the idea of the soul is used to define our humanity, to separate us from other organisms. I’ve heard some say that only animals have souls, and I’ve heard from others that only humans have souls. I think of the soul as a beautiful metaphor for our humanity.
When writing this piece I took to the idea of exploring the concept of the soul. I wanted to capture the sense of uncertainty and ambiguity that pervades this philosophical venture. So the piece contains within it an exploration, with all its moments of uncertainty, clarity, doubt, inspiration, epiphany, realization, contentment, and whatever other similar sentiments the musicians may bring to it.
I do not believe in the existence of a soul. However, I feel that the memory of a person, an individual’s legacy, what they make during their lifetimes that outlives them is in a way similar to the idea of a soul or spirit that exists within us, but whose existence continues elsewhere after our deaths. So perhaps our art, our creations, our relationships with others are the closest things we have to a soul.
Now, I’d like to ask you the player, or the listener, “do you believe in the existence of the soul?“
-Samuel Mutter