{"title":"Sheet music composed by Spencer Arias (1990-)","description":"Spencer Arias (1990-) is a composer from United States of America.","products":[{"product_id":"arias-critical-immobility-just-theory","title":"Arias: Critical Immobility","description":"\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposer\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003ca href=\"\/zh\/collections\/spencer-arias\"\u003eSpencer Arias (1990-)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Score \u0026amp; Set of Parts\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong class=\"original-instrumentation-title\"\u003eInstrumentation\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"original-instrumentation\"\u003eWind Quintet (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Horn, Bassoon)\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWork\u003c\/strong\u003e: Critical Immobility (2023)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"binding hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eISMN\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"book-barcode\"\u003e9790094008327\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"book-width\"\u003e8.7\u003c\/span\u003e x \u003cspan class=\"book-length\"\u003e12.0\u003c\/span\u003e inches\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"book-pages\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages\u003c\/strong\u003e: 11\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"one-half columns\"\u003e \u003ch4\u003eDescription\u003c\/h4\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"feature_divider\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eCritical Immobility\u003c\/em\u003e is one piece out of a collection of works, new works in response to and collaboration with a group of plant scientists, in this case, Andrei Smertenko, in his talk \"Critical Immobility.\" This scientist, in particular, was quite vivid in his explanations of how plant cells interact with one another and how they differ from animal cells. for instance, when an animal cell is infected with a disease, the other cells will work together to eliminate the infected cells and keep that disease from spreading. This defense is also partly due to cells' ability to move and adapt in ways plant cells cannot. This defense is our immune system. Plant cells, on the other hand, are immobile and cannot move within the plant. This lifestyle has consequences, such as a tiny disease spreading throughout the plant that begins to spread. One way to fix this is to prune a plant to remove diseased stalks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlant Cells make decisions collectively to respond to environmental signals. So when there is a frigid day, and the plant leaves are feeling the harsh frost brush up against the plant, the cells within the leaves will send a signal to other parts of the plant, such as the roots, to let them know that they will need to adjust or adapt so not to experience this frost so negatively. This adaptability is critical to understanding how cells adapt so it can better help us keep plants from negatively reacting to the effect of climate change. Musically, I wanted to create a work that reflected many of these reactionary responses. The initial pulsating motive builds to this choral moment that organically arose from the chosen harmony, which is vaguely a canon. As each section evolves, different instruments take on various roles and act communicatively, so it should feel like a response, even if the musical material repeats. The three primary sections of the work explore different responses to external environmental stimuli while also exploring the color of the quintet to represent various parts of a plant, all leading us back to the pulsating calmness of a return to normalcy.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Just a Theory Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42826205265999,"sku":"101-063-SP","price":40.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0900\/1828\/files\/525bdc8b1892e61a6e6a43238c7a72ec.png?v=1749602536"},{"product_id":"arias-the-inefficiencies-that-feed-us-just-theory","title":"Arias: The Inefficiencies That Feed Us","description":"\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposer\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003ca href=\"\/zh\/collections\/spencer-arias\"\u003eSpencer Arias (1990-)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong class=\"original-instrumentation-title\"\u003eInstrumentation\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"original-instrumentation\"\u003ePercussion\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWork\u003c\/strong\u003e: The Inefficiencies That Feed Us (2023)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"binding hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eISMN\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"book-barcode\"\u003e9790094008358\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"book-width\"\u003e8.7\u003c\/span\u003e x \u003cspan class=\"book-length\"\u003e12.0\u003c\/span\u003e inches\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"book-pages\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages\u003c\/strong\u003e: 7\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"one-half columns\"\u003e \u003ch4\u003eDescription\u003c\/h4\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"feature_divider\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ethe inefficiencies that feed us,\u003c\/em\u003e Spencer Arias (2023)\nfor solo percussion\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe creation of this work would not be possible without the important contributions of Berkley J. Walker. It is crucial that the science is highlighted, by vocalizing the scientist note aloud to the audience so that they can learn about the research the music was inspired by.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**Scientist Note\n** Farm to plate is all the rage today, people wanting to follow their food from where it was grown, to their tabletOp. We want this to ensure that it has been processed according to our values but also a fascination with the process itself. But what about going further back from the farm, to the real source of our food on the planet earth to the sun itself? My research focuses on following this energetic journey from the sun to our plate and understanding where energy is lost and how this journey will be impacted by a changing planet. Understanding this journey may hold the key to capturing more energy from the sun and more sustainably producing food and fuel for a growing planet. We call this journey \"photosynthesis\". Photosynthesis is the catch-all term for the reactions in plants that harvest energy from the sun and change carbon dioxide molecules in the air into sugars. These sugars are not just the sweet kind but form the building blocks of the vast Majority of life on this planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo how much of all the energy that comes from the sun actually ends up in the food we eat? It turns out the journey from photon to plate is not as efficient as you might think. Photosynthesis in crops has only a total ~1% conversion efficiency of solar energy. This one percent powers practically all life on this planet and gives us the air we breath, the food we eat, the clothes we wear and a growing amount of the energy we consume. So what are we finding out about these inefficiencies of photosynthesis? My lab studies a particular inefficiency called \"Photorespiration\". This inefficiency stems from the fact that carbon dioxide and oxygen, are actually quite the same shape. They are so similar that the first step of photosynthesis that grabs a carbon dioxide has trouble telling them apart and about 1 time out of 5, grabs an oxygen instead of a carbon dioxide. When it grabs an oxygen the result is a sugar molecule that is of no use to the plant, and must be recycled. This recycling is expensive, using about 148 trillion Calories of energy in just the Midwest, this is enough calories that if you converted these to donut equivalents, you would have enough donuts to stack to the moon and back over 20 times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWork in our lab is revealing that this inefficiency is more than it first seems. We look at photorespiration to understand how it is integrated with everything else the plant does to stay alive. We are finding that this apparent inefficiency in terms of energy, may also have great benefit in other aspects. Instead of simply being a recycling pathway, it is an \"up-cycling\" pathway that may help make the protein and vitamins in plants that are so important for human nutrition.\n\u003cem\u003e-Berkley J. Walker, Ph.D Molecular Plant Sciences, Associate Professor of Plant Biology at Michigan State University\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**Program Note\n** \u003cem\u003eThe inefficiencies that feed us\u003c\/em\u003e was written in collaboration with Plant Scientist Berkley Walker about his research on Photosynthesis. The work uses a gestural representation of the process of a photon moving from the sun to a plant to the plate of the food we eat. The science is at the center of the work.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Just a Theory Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43160209686607,"sku":"101-066-FS","price":20.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0900\/1828\/files\/54057c0a40285df0f00d0b672fcac5d1.png?v=1749578295"},{"product_id":"arias-photorespiration-just-theory","title":"Arias: Photorespiration","description":"\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposer\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003ca href=\"\/zh\/collections\/spencer-arias\"\u003eSpencer Arias (1990-)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong class=\"original-instrumentation-title\"\u003eInstrumentation\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"original-instrumentation\"\u003ePiano\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWork\u003c\/strong\u003e: Photorespiration (2024)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"binding hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eISMN\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"book-barcode\"\u003e9790094008334\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"book-width\"\u003e8.7\u003c\/span\u003e x \u003cspan class=\"book-length\"\u003e12.0\u003c\/span\u003e inches\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"book-pages\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages\u003c\/strong\u003e: 13\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"one-half columns\"\u003e \u003ch4\u003eDescription\u003c\/h4\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"feature_divider\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePhotorespiration,\u003c\/em\u003e Spencer Arias (2024)\nfor solo piano\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe creation of this work would not be possible without the important contributions of Berkley J. Walker. It is crucial that the science is highlighted, by vocalizing the scientist note aloud to the audience so that they can learn about the research the music was inspired by.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**Scientist Note\n** Oftentimes when people think about how plants will respond to rising carbon emissions and temperatures, the image that comes to mind is a barren wasteland of withered stalks. While this may be the case in some regions, the truth is much more nuanced than this. for example, since plants use carbon dioxide for photosynthesis, which produces the basic building blocks of life, there is an aspect of climate change that is beneficial to plant growth. for example, years of experimental research in crop growth under elevated carbon dioxide concentrations show that if there is sufficient water, crop production actually increases. So does this mean that our mental image of withered stalks should be replaced by croplands thick with productivity?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot quite, while we know that increasing temperatures and variable precipitation may reduce the benefits of increased carbon dioxide, there is another factor to consider. with this increase in yield due to higher carbon dioxide comes a general decrease in how nutritious food is that comes from these plants. So even though we may have greater yield, the quality of this yield decreases. in my lab we are looking at a particular mechanism that links elevated carbon dioxide with decreased plant nutrition. This link comes from a process known as photorespiration, which helps feed the metabolic pathways that produce classes of vitamers known as folates. We are working to quantify how much of plant folates come from this process of photorespiration and how climate change will effect future production of these vital compounds. This knowledge will not only help us better understand what we are in for, but it may also guide efforts to increase production of these compounds in the future.\u003cstrong\u003e\n\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e-Berkley J. Walker, Ph.D Molecular Plant Sciences, Associate Professor of Plant Biology at Michigan State University\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**Program Note\n** \u003cem\u003ePhotorespiration\u003c\/em\u003e is one piece out of a collection of new works in response to and collaboration with a group of plant scientists, in this case, Berkley Walker, in his talk \"The Future of Plant Nutrition.\" As you can see below, quite a bit of nuance goes into the effects of Climate Change on the Biology of Plants and the impact that biology has on the essential nutrients required for our survival. One thing that people outside of the science fields often struggle with is the search for truth and how that truth is ever-evolving. So, for instance, plant scientists discovered that higher carbon dioxide levels increase plant yields, so for many of us, we might immediately say carbon dioxide is suitable for plants, yet as Berkley points out, that does not take into consideration the decrease in plant nutrition, which is also an important point to be aware of. The nuance of scientific research is part of what this piece explores. Musically speaking, I was looking to evoke a sound world of a mix of desolation (withered stalks), contemplation, and this juxtaposition between what we know and what we don't. Quite quickly, it became clear that the worlds built by Japanese Filmmaker and Animator Hayao Miyazaki and his frequent collaborator composer Joe Hisaishi were something I wanted to explore as many of his films connect to this idea of humanity's relationship to nature. Plants are an essential part of our existence, and having a closer relationship and understanding is critical to continuing this co-existence. Unlike other works in this project, this piece relies on metaphor significantly more than gestural responses to data or surface-level features as it does in my work, the \"inefficiencies that feed us,\" It is much more about painting an impression of a world that we are still trying to understand fully and are regularly at odds with.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Just a Theory Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43160209752143,"sku":"101-064-FS","price":20.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0900\/1828\/files\/bd30c9222e2b7dc734cb1f0cd828f6dc.png?v=1749581002"},{"product_id":"arias-plant-cell-highway-traffic-jam-just-theory","title":"Arias: Plant Cell Highway Traffic Jam","description":"\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposer\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003ca href=\"\/zh\/collections\/spencer-arias\"\u003eSpencer Arias (1990-)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Set of Parts\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong class=\"original-instrumentation-title\"\u003eInstrumentation\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"original-instrumentation\"\u003ePiano, Horn, Tuba\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWork\u003c\/strong\u003e: Plant Cell Highway Traffic Jam (2025)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"binding hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eISMN\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"book-barcode\"\u003e9790094008341\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"book-width\"\u003e9.0\u003c\/span\u003e x \u003cspan class=\"book-length\"\u003e12.0\u003c\/span\u003e inches\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"book-pages\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages\u003c\/strong\u003e: 19\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"one-half columns\"\u003e \u003ch4\u003eDescription\u003c\/h4\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"feature_divider\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePlant Cell Highway Traffic Jam,\u003c\/em\u003e Spencer Arias (2024)\nfor horn, tuba, and piano\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe creation of this work would not be possible without the important contributions of Cecilia Rodriguez-Furlan. It is crucial that the science is highlighted, by vocalizing the scientist note aloud to the audience so that they can learn about the research the music was inspired by.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScientist Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\nOur research focuses on understanding how plant cells allocate their resources. The process behind resource allocation resembles cars navigating highways to reach their destinations. in cells, tiny lipid droplets act as cars and carry cargo—such as proteins and waste—through a network of highways, eventually delivering it to different compartments. Compartments resemble rooms in a house, where the walls are made of lipids. Different compartments have different functions, like storage, recycling, and degradation. Just as traffic on highways can experience jams due to roadblocks, detours, or accidents, disruptions in cellular traffic can cause \"traffic jams\" that lead to cargo delays or misdirection, which can impair cellular function. By studying these pathways, we aim to uncover how plant cells maintain smooth and regulated transport, shedding light on processes essential for growth, responses to a changing environment, and overall plant survival. Studying these fundamental processes will aid our ability to generate more efficient crops, showing enhanced productivity.\n\u003cem\u003e-Cecilia Rodriguez-Furlan, Ph.D Biotechnology, Assistant Professor of Plant Cellular and Molecular Biology, Plant Physiology at Washington State University\u003c\/em\u003e****\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e**Program Note\n** \u003cem\u003ePlant Cell Highway Traffic Jam\u003c\/em\u003e is one piece out of a collection of new works in response to and collaboration with a group of plant scientists, in this case, Cecilia Rodriguez Furlan. Plant Cell Highway Traffic Jam was a metaphor used by Cecilia to represent the inner workings of a plant Cell.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn many ways talking with Cecilia I was brought back to the children's science book and television series the Magic School Bus. The metaphors that Cecilia used reminded me as if I was on the magic school bus stuck in a traffic jam. I wanted to focus primarily on adaptation of pulse, with each voice between Horn, Tuba, and the different hands on the piano acting frequently on different pulse streams with the occasional joining in lockstep to represent different components inside the cell trying to get to the various chambers. This pulse is meant to be quite driving, and pervasive such as being on a highway. The highly contrasting dynamics should be exaggerated, and the melodic moments should be a mix of intense, highly articulated, and at times a bit chaotic as well as a sincerity. It ends with a sense of resolution, and a sense of optimism that Cecelia makes an important discovery to better solve the issue of a plant cell highway traffic jam, and our journey through the insides of a plant cell brings us to solving the worlds plant issues.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Just a Theory Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43160209784911,"sku":"101-065-SP","price":30.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0900\/1828\/files\/82702f2716e76f3a4eb04c74b55eb2be.png?v=1749577709"},{"product_id":"arias-a-day-at-the-circus-just-theory","title":"Arias: A Day At the Circus","description":"\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposer\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003ca href=\"\/zh\/collections\/spencer-arias\"\u003eSpencer Arias (1990-)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong class=\"original-instrumentation-title\"\u003eInstrumentation\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"original-instrumentation\"\u003eConcert Band\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWork\u003c\/strong\u003e: A Day at the Circus (2024)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"binding hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"book-pages\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages\u003c\/strong\u003e: 21\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"one-half columns\"\u003e \u003ch4\u003eDescription\u003c\/h4\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"feature_divider\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhat can be more thrilling and exciting than a day at the circus? There are romanticized circuses that travel around the country with a band of outcasts who perform mystifying tricks, attempt dangerous feats, and showcase the unique oddities of the people in the troupe. Then, the modern circus with shows like Cirque du Soleil brings this practice to the mainstream. Instead of outcasts, it focuses on the thrill of incredibly choreographed theater pieces centered on acrobatic dancing. It's interesting to see how this has evolved over the decades. What has stayed the same is the audience's adoration for these mind-blowing athletes who push the body to its limits in the most artistic way possible. Rather than highlighting these people's differences, we look at them for the spectacle they can provide us. This piece takes us through a day at the circus, starting with the ringmaster pumping us up. We feel the nostalgia of being a child seeing all of this, with the wide variety of performers, eventually leading us to observe the beauty of an acrobat suspended in the air. I imagine them ascending in a hoop and floating like a star. As the day continues, we build towards the grand finale, with two acrobats flying in the air to achieve one last dangerous feat - diving through a ring of fire into the net while spinning like a cannonball to massive success. The audience goes wild, and the acrobats, beaming, know they just pulled off the trick of a lifetime.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInstrumentation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Piccolo, flute 1-2, oboe, English horn, bassoon, clarinet 1-3, bass clarinet, alto saxophone 1-2, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, cornet 1-3, trumpet 1-2, horn 1-4, tromone 1-2, bass trombone, euphonium, tuba, double bass, timpani, percussion 1-5\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Just a Theory Press","offers":[{"title":"Score \u0026 Set of Parts","offer_id":43296858439759,"sku":"101-061-SP","price":150.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Full Score","offer_id":43296858472527,"sku":"101-061-FS","price":55.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0900\/1828\/files\/07ada06ae4acef4cb6d3e601c2d724f5.webp?v=1751922882"},{"product_id":"arias-heat-index-just-theory","title":"Arias: Heat Index","description":"\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposer\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003ca href=\"\/zh\/collections\/spencer-arias\"\u003eSpencer Arias (1990-)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFormat\u003c\/strong\u003e: Score \u0026amp; Set of Parts\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong class=\"original-instrumentation-title\"\u003eInstrumentation\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"original-instrumentation\"\u003eClarinet I, Clarinet II, Bass Clarinet, Clarinet III\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWork\u003c\/strong\u003e: Heat Index (2025)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"binding hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"book-width\"\u003e8.9\u003c\/span\u003e x \u003cspan class=\"book-length\"\u003e11.8\u003c\/span\u003e inches\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"book-pages\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages\u003c\/strong\u003e: 28\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"one-half columns\"\u003e \u003ch4\u003eDescription\u003c\/h4\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"feature_divider\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e \u003cp\u003eLiving in Arizona means developing an active awareness of how heat shapes our daily lives. in Phoenix, the average daily temperature in July (the hottest month of the year) hovers around 95.5°F (35.3°C), with record highs reaching 122°F (50°C). The average daily maximum in July is 106.5°F (41.4°C), making heat not just a condition but a constant presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat we often overlook, however, are the residents who lack access to reliable transportation. Spanning over 1,100 square miles, the Phoenix metropolitan area is one of the largest examples of urban sprawl in the United States. While Valley Metro provides transit across much of this region, weekday ridership averages only about 126,700 or roughly 3.5% of the population. Limited route coverage, infrequent service (with many buses arriving only every 20 minutes), and the unbearable nature of waiting in 110°F (43°C) heat contribute to this low usage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe result is a disproportionate burden on lower-income individuals, many of whom rely on these limited transit systems for work, education, and access to basic needs. Heat Index is in dialogue with the efforts of Arizona based landscape architects and urban planners who are working to mitigate this harm through the strategic use of shade, trees, and thoughtful redesign of public infrastructure. The work reflects both the oppressive weight of the desert heat and the human resilience required to move through it.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Just a Theory Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44314156728399,"sku":"101-069-SP","price":40.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0900\/1828\/files\/18015bab5ea5f5a00253d7bc52a99076.webp?v=1767737644"},{"product_id":"arias-what-it-could-be-with-hope-and-joy-just-theory","title":"Arias: What It Could Be with Hope and Joy","description":"\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eComposer\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003ca href=\"\/zh\/collections\/spencer-arias\"\u003eSpencer Arias (1990-)\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e \u003cstrong class=\"original-instrumentation-title\"\u003eInstrumentation\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"original-instrumentation\"\u003ePiano, Tenor Saxophone\u003c\/span\u003e \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWork\u003c\/strong\u003e: What It Could Be with Hope and Joy (2025)\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"binding hidden\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize\u003c\/strong\u003e: \u003cspan class=\"book-width\"\u003e8.9\u003c\/span\u003e x \u003cspan class=\"book-length\"\u003e12.0\u003c\/span\u003e inches\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cli class=\"book-pages\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages\u003c\/strong\u003e: 20\u003c\/li\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c!-- split --\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"row\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"one-half columns\"\u003e \u003ch4\u003eDescription\u003c\/h4\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"feature_divider\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e \u003cp\u003eJoy - the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune, or by the prospect of possessing what one desires\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"What It Could Be with Hope and Joy\" was written in response to a prompt to write music about the emotion of Joy for Marie Humburger as part of her graduate work of commissioning new works based around various emotions. in 2024, the world, particularly mine, was one with not very much Joy. I had initially felt little motivation to write music about an emotion I wasn't feeling. Instead, I decided to make my piece about joy at the expense of others. As a Gay Jewish person, I have become much more aware of how these two communities are used as scapegoats (regardless of viewpoints), and this often leads to rights being taken away because other communities feel threatened by our existence, and the only way that they can feel secure, which leads to a false sense of joy, is by blaming someone else.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI learned several life lessons connected to interpersonal relationships with other people, which led to a lot of pain. Still, I absolutely had the experience of joy throughout these experiences. It led me to the stark realization that I am a dreamer. I am a what-if person. I am incredibly hopeful, and even with setbacks, the amount of hope I have for humanity, be it globally, locally, or interpersonally, has kept me optimistic and genuinely an open-minded and happier individual. Despite these setbacks, particularly with interpersonal relationships and global events, I am still hopeful, which brings me Joy. Being proud of my identity brings me Joy. Knowing that while I am not always accepted by all people, members of these communities will accept me brings me Joy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first movement reflects how I felt at the beginning of the composition. Moving forward quickly, on alert, desperate, and concerned. The piano presents a driving rhythmic persona while the saxophone yells for help. The relentlessness of the descending lines in their various forms, be it the melodic figures or the downward arpeggios, reflects the emotions connected to a sense of hopelessness and lack of joy. This opening movement is where I was when I started composing. By the second movement, I began reflecting on how to overcome this sadness and anger. But with hope presents a wish for stability and presents loosely as a Passacaglia, steady and unwavering, but with a sense of progress which leads up to joy. The 4+5 meter presents a slight duality, but one side has more strength than the other. That strength may or may not disappear, but acceptance of that can lead to a sense of resolution. By the third movement, I realized that hope can lead to joy, but joy is a more complex emotion than pure happiness. The definition above includes the phrase \"the prospect of good fortune,\" which implies that without hope, there is no joy and that fortune may or may not occur in the way imagined, but that does not mean acceptance of who we need versus who they are cannot lead to joy. The descending arpeggio figure still exists. The problems don't just disappear. I am reminded of a video I recently saw online explaining how trauma is healed. A glass of dark brown liquid exists and is put under the faucet, representing the work it takes to heal. The dark brown liquid remains and sits under the faucet for quite some time before the glass becomes transparent. I imagine Joy for many of us exists like this. It takes work and does not happen immediately, but you must also choose to experience Joy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpencer Arias\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e \u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Just a Theory Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44926883594319,"sku":"JAT-101-068-SP","price":40.5,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0900\/1828\/files\/74e401607c3e79f6932818de073f94b0.webp?v=1773939602"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.ficksmusic.com\/zh\/collections\/spencer-arias.oembed","provider":"Ficks Music","version":"1.0","type":"link"}