Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 5

At the request of composer Joan Tower, PetsAloud co-founder Nikki Pet created the animated visuals for Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 5, performed alongside the premiere of the piece’s clarinet quartet arrangement at the 2022 Yale Clarinet Celebration. This marked the first use of Marionette Live  Video Accompaniment for a multi-voice ensemble, synchronizing animation in real time with the interplay of four live performers. The animations were designed to reflect the shifting energy and layered texture of the clarinet quartet, re-enforcing rhythmic structures and dramatic intent in Tower’s composition.

This performance was a key milestone in the development of LVA, demonstrating its ability to adapt beyond solo works. Since then, LVA’s capabilities have significantly expanded—as seen in our 2024 production of Stravinsky’s A Soldier’s Tale, which supports an hour-long performance with seven musicians and a narrator.

Concert premiere of Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 5 in Sprague Hall at the Yale School of Music, performed by Maureed Hurd-Hause, Romie de Guise-Langlois, Seunghee Lee, and Nikki Pet. Kaitlin Pet also pictured in lower left corner, running LVA.