Firefiles is a commission by Camerata Nova, a woodwind quintet formed by faculty members at Western Illinois University. The work draws inspiration from the reverberation and echo effects that are commonly used in the world of electronic music.
The title refers to a visual phenomenon that I relate to reverb and echo. One of the advantages living in Macomb, IL is that during the summer, fireflies prevails the neighborhoods in town. They can be seen at the backyard of my house blinking sporadically lighting up the space. When I first moved in to my unfurnished house, there was one lighting bug that accidentally sneaked into my bedroom providing the comfort that was needed from a busy moving day.
Another sight I experience from living in the midwest is the darkness during night driving. With the lack of street lights and traffic, driving in the midwest could resemble the experience of roaming in the outer space. The consolations of night driving are the blinking red lights from the wind turbines and, on a clear night, the ever-lighting moon.
Hong-Da Chin 