Noumenon

A noumenon is something that exists independent of interpretation. It’s based on a philosophical concept developed by Immanuel Kant, literally meaning “the thing in itself.” It describes the gap between how an entity can be defined on its own, versus humankind’s capacity to act upon that entity as an agent of change.

The piece is a psychoacoustic exploration of grief, inspired by the trials of close friends and acquaintances. It serves not as catharsis but rather a smoldering endurance, its tensions bubbling underneath the surface.

Noumenon is composed for electronics and piano, with Stephen J. Gladney contributing saxophone.