Misterioso, Op. 15b is an elaboration and expansion of the second movement from my Duet in Db Major, Op. 15, originally composed for horn and bass trombone. While the melodic and harmonic material is derived from that earlier work, this version reimagines the music through denser and more elaborate textures made possible with a full clarinet choir.

The piece evokes the mysterious atmosphere of old, shadowy houses, castle ruins, and haunted graveyards. It is a musical reflection on a trip I took to Slovenia in 2015 while attending the International Society of Contemporary Music (ISCM) Festival. A few days into the festival, I took a day trip into the Alps with my advisor, Stephen Lias. We rented a car and explored the mountain roads, eventually reaching two castle ruins - one of which (I believe) was partially destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars.

What struck me most about these places was their openness; there were no guided tours, no staff, no barriers - just the ruins themselves, sitting quietly in the mountains. With very few people around, we were able to explore these structures entirely on our own.

For those who know me well, it probably comes as no surprise that I have a lifelong love of classic horror films, particularly the Universal monster movies of the 1930s and 40s. Walking through these ruins genuinely felt like stepping onto the sets of old Frankenstein or Wolf Man films. Despite never having been there before, the environment felt strangely familiar. It was almost like being transported back into my childhood, shaped by years of imagining myself inside those cinematic universes.

The music reflects how I felt while exploring these spaces: excited, curious, but also cautious. That sense of tension intensified at the second site, a castle-like structure surrounded by a massive wall. A small, unlocked gate in the wall allowed us to enter the castle grounds, and only after walking inside did we realize that the “ground” beneath our feet was actually the ceiling of underground chambers surrounding the castle!

This atmosphere of uncertainty and exploration is central to Misterioso. The primary melody, which serves as the foundation for much of the piece, is intentionally wandering in character. Harmonically, it moves through chord progressions that are not closely related, creating a sense of unpredictability. For example, when the main melody first enters (measure 5), it outlines a concert D minor chord, before wandering through the progression of Abm, Dm, and Gbm. Of these chords, only Dm occurs naturally in the key of D minor. This harmonic instability destabilizes the tonal center and enhances the feeling of mystery, as though venturing into the unknown.