David Sampson

Restless

Restless is a work for solo guitar written for and dedicated to João Luiz, a renowned guitarist, composer and educator from New York City. The piece was completed on March 19, 2020 and takes the form of an inner monologue in its approximately five-minute duration. Through a contrasting musical language, Restless explores the various facets of inner turmoil. Thoughtful, introspective passages - at times almost floating - alternate with more impulsive, propulsive gestures, conveying the image of a restless mind. Musical motifs develop, react to each other and disintegrate, creating a continuous expressive tension. The work unfolds like a musical stream of consciousness, oscillating between contemplation and urgency. It ends in a withdrawn, almost fragile atmosphere in which the music seems to turn inwards. This open, questioning ending leaves the listener with the impression of incompleteness - as if the restlessness continues beyond the fading away.