Commissioned by the Düsseldorf Symphoniker, Germany, 2024.

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Spinphony is based on the bicycle experience, which has always been a part of my life.

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In my childhood, it was the vehicle that connected me with other kids on the block; in my youth, I rode for exercise, taking long trips in the mountains or touring the Netherlands. More recently, I taught my daughter how to ride, so we could go to and from school together.

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Tempo changes are made through metric modulations, which are calculated using the relationship between one given tempo and the next, similar to the gear changes used by bicycles with multiple speeds. These metric modulations represent the changes required to navigate uphill climbs, downhill descents, and flat terrain, which require slow, fast, and sustained pedaling cadences. In the percussion section, there are familiar bicycle sounds, such as horns, bells, and ringtones, as well as the friction of ball bearings rotating inside balloons, which emulate the sound of tires rolling on pavement. The character of the music represents the contrast between the fatigue in the legs on uphill climbs and the thrill of full-speed descents — the pains and pleasures of mountain biking.