Grit

Lauren Spavelko (b. 1989) is a composer, arranger, studio teacher, performer, and visual artist. People are her favorite part of music, and she spends most of her time creating and sharing it with them. We should all experience the beauty, craft, connection, love, joy, and hard work of the process.

Lauren writes: “Grit is defined as 'an abrasive material composed of hard, sharp granules' and also as a personality trait characterized by 'firmness of mind or spirit, unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger, and perseverance and passion for longterm goals.' Grit is thus composed to capture the dual meaning of the word.

The structure of Grit portrays perseverance, struggle, and courage in the face of adversity. This brief work makes abundant use of mixed meter, uneven rhythms, accents, abrupt shifts, and sharp dissonances which, combined, create the rough-around-the-edges sound of the piece."

This piece is part of the Developing Contemporary Techniques Series published by Sleepy Puppy Press. The series seeks out living composers to write chamber pieces that provide a gentle introduction for intermediate players to the styles, harmonic language, and techniques needed for 20th and 21st century music. Inspired by the Kronos Quartet’s “50 for the Future” project, these pieces help intermediate players understand and enjoy the classical music of their own time.