PHOTO BY SOZO
The WHIN Variations (2024)
for voice and chamber ensemble
by Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR)
Instrumentation: Voice (1 or more singers); 2 Violins; Viola; Cello; Percussion (1 or more players); Bass (electric and/or acoustic)
NOTE: The number of players can be expanded as desired
Length: 12 minutes
COMPOSER’S NOTE:
“The WHIN Variations is a work for children or very young players. It's comprised of three themes and three sets of variations. The musical material is contructed from whole-, half-, quarter-, eigth-, and sixteenth-notes, and as the work unfolds, each variation becomes more challenging. This music is folky, funky, melodic, and contrapuntal.
The music here is inspired by my days in residence at the WHIN school of music in New York City, spending time within the community there, and sharing stories and songs with everyone. I remain moved by the mission of the school, and its focus on, 'how we learn together, how we treat each other, and how we impact our community'. In this, there are no teachers or students, rather, we are all contributors, contributing to a classroom, a school, a stage, and a world-wide community of ideas!” - DBR
Please contact us for rental, to request a preview score, or to purchase a study score.
Notable performances:
Commissioned by WHIN Music Community Charter School, NYC
WHIN Music Community Charter School, NYC (2025) (Premiere)
Planning a performance of this work? Please contact us and let us know the date and venue.
About the composer:
Composer’s website
Composer’s biography
Press
Press:
"The WHIN Variations reflects his philosophy: every student has a role to play, every voice counts. "Everyone is challenged, but everyone also has the chance to be heard," he explains." - Rezo Nódwes (translated from French)
"...my violin has always been more than my instrument. It’s been my companion, friend, and teacher in many ways. I hope that the students there are engaged in the same kind of journey with their instrument and their music-making and that they may not realize this now, but their lives have changed and will change if they allow music to be integral to their path and life’s journey,” - DBR speaking about this piece with Caribbean Life
Score sample:
