The inaugural release in a new series of split 10” vinyl EPs pairing works by two emerging San Francisco Bay Area composers performed by local ensembles, this record features the music of Danny Clay and Joseph M. Colombo.

In Danny's the first and the last, the combined forces of guitar trio and string quartet propel the listener through a constantly-changing emotional landscape. Joseph's Ouroboros, for 2 pianos 8 hands, is an immersive study in rhythm and texture constructed entirely from descending chromatic scales.

Danny Clay on the first and the last:

the first and the last was written for a one-time performance at the Hotel Utah in San Francisco by two groups of dear friends: Mobius Trio and Friction Quartet. It was written at a time when I wasn't sure if I would be staying in San Francisco for much longer—there was a strange electricity in the air. What I wanted most was to write a piece where every note was bursting with joy, gratitude, and love.

Joseph M. Colombo on Ouroboros:

The ouroboros—a depiction of a serpent devouring its own tail—symbolizes the self-renewing cycle of life and death, as well as the unity of creative and destructive processes. Both of these concepts come into play in this work. A chromatic line descends the entire range of the piano, only to reappear in the highest register, circling back upon itself, continuing its descent. Once it returns to where it started, another, faster line slips off. More lines continue to build up until the music collapses under its own weight.

The EP may also be purchased as a digital download. The physical release includes a download code. The individual tracks are also available separately.