Subsonic Pulse was originally composed for a low wind quartet in the spring of 2023 for the Akropolis Chamber Music Institute. Later, following the advice of many friends, I arranged it for reed quintet a few months later.

The title comes from the original instrumentation, since all the instruments are low. In writing this piece, I explored the low register of each instrument to create a powerful low-frequency soundscape. T o emphasize this weight, I asked the performers in the second movement to play on mouthpieces capable of reaching the high register, creating a huge contrast. What’s funny to me is that the second movement was something I originally thought was too simple—built on a single ostinato texture with a few extended techniques. Yet, to my surprise, it ended up becoming everyone’s favorite.

Each movement was titled based on its tempo. Fun fact, the second movement was originally named The Slow Movement, though the performers at its premiere didn't find the tempo slow at all. That's why I changed it to The Medium Fast Movement.

(Wenbin Lyu, October 15, 2023)

2023 - Fivemind Reeds Call for Scores; winner

August 17, 2024; Inaugural Concert Series - Fivemind Classics!; Culver City, CA; Fivemind Reeds

June 1, 2024; The Sound Garden Project; Glen Arbor, MI; Fivemind Reeds

March 21, 2024; TUTTI New Arts Festival; Denison University; Granville, OH; UCelli

November 15, 2023; Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Cincinnati, OH; BARQ

October 21, 2023; Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music; Cincinnati, OH; Hub New Music

August 10 & 11 & 13, 2023 (premiere); Bay View Music Festival; Petoskey, MI; ACMI