OSM New Music Commission - Potentia
Potentia , composed by Jason Anthony Gomez, was commissioned by OSM and received its world premiere performance on Feb 16, 2025. A suite in six parts accompanying poetry by Anne Carmack, Potentia offers a poignant meditation on the shared experiences of human life. Carmack’s poem unfolds as a series of vivid impressions that explore themes such as birth, youth, love, illness, and loss. These poetic fragments serve as touchstones of reflection, inviting listeners to connect with the shared threads of existence. While there is no overarching narrative, the text follows a cyclical structure, evoking the rhythms and repetitions of life itself.
For Potentia’s creation and world premiere, OSM collaborated with and presented the internationally renowned baritone, Jubilant Sykes, as singer/narrator.
About the creation of Potentia
This 4-1/2 minute video presents the collaborative creation of Potentia with excerpts of the piece and interviews with OSM Music Director/Conductor Roger Kalia, composer Jason Anthony Gomez, poet/writer Anne Carmack, and singer/narrator Jubilant Sykes.
The poem...
Read the poetry of Potentia…
The music..
In approaching the composition, Gomez sought to create a musical language that is both inviting and grounding, providing a supportive canvas for the emotional breadth of Carmack’s text. The harmonic and thematic elements aim to capture the immense spectrum of life’s experiences, from joy to sorrow, and to convey a sense of resilience and hope. From a broader perspective, the music suggests that even amidst life’s challenges, there is a sense of equilibrium—a reassurance that, in the grand tapestry of existence, all will ultimately be well.
Excerpts from Potentia are presented below.
More information...
Newsletter interviews with our Potentia partners can be found at the following links:
- Interview: Roger Kalia and Jason Anthony Gomez
- Interview: Roger Kalia and Anne Carmack
- Interview: Roger Kalia and Jubilant Sykes