Nexus I

Nexus I is the first installment of a tone poem in three parts for large orchestra. The entire sequence is inspired by a fictional phenomenon portrayed in an especially impactful film from the Star Trek franchise, Star Trek VII: Generations. In this movie, “Nexus” is the name given to a massive ribbon of light and energy stretching the widths of solar systems, slowly yet inexorably following a trajectory through the observable universe. A devourer of interstellar vessels and a specter of planets, the protagonists and antagonist alike find themselves caught within this anomaly during the film. For viewers, this unveils a dimension that exists outside of conventional time and space in which lost souls stay revolving through idyllic, blissful, dream-like visions and experiences. Inexplicably personal and beautiful, this hidden siren’s call of the Nexus brilliantly drives the antagonist into a crazed obsession to return while also presenting a situation for the timeless unifying of Star Trek’stwo most loved and archetypical protagonists, Jean-Luc Picard and James T. Kirk.

This first episode of the three-part tone poem I composed in response to both the themes and spectacles of the film began as an exercise in orchestral textures and colors, but quickly evolved into one of my largest and most cherished projects to date. The Nexus from the movie is depicted in the piece with a cyclical sequence of eight chords that modulates down a minor third with each repetition. Its appearance in the piece is climactic, but unstable - the sequence slows with each reiteration despite the strings (which outline the same harmonic contour) continuing at a consistent rate, creating a strong sense of phasing and tearing within the ensemble. Beyond that, Nexus I is populated with rich intertwining harmonies and layered counterpoint, as well as making use of a highly modified orchestral wind section (including both bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet as well as soprano saxophone). The piece is intentionally somewhat prefatory, since it presents melodic material in fragments and defines a distinct harmonic/sonic landscape before (like in the movie’s exposition) catastrophe strikes and the material fades out, distantly beaconing for a response.

Performance Time: 6’45”

Scored for : 2 flutes and alto flute, 2 oboes, soprano saxophone, 2 clarinets (A) and bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet, 2 bassoons and contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets (C), 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, percussion - 2 players, and strings [3*.2.4**.3*+sop.sax/4.3.3.1/timp+1/strings]