Oda for Violoncello and Electronics is a reflection on Pablo Neruda’s poem "Oda a la bella desnuda" found in his “Nuevas Odas Elementales.” Like the poem, the piece celebrates beauty and its splendor. The music is mostly tranquil and meditative. The lyrical passages that dominate Oda evoke the mysteries of enigmatic beauty, while the more intense passages are meant to symbolize desire and passion. The harmonic and melodic content of the piece spins out of a symmetrical chord that represents beauty.

This piece is written for and dedicated to my friend, cellist Jennifer Humphreys, who is the performer in this recording. It also serves as homage to Pablo Neruda.

The electronic sounds in the piece were made in Pro-Tools, using virtual midi instruments Big Ben Bell and Laverne. The patch for the pedal that triggers these sounds was made in Max/MSP. The piece was recorded and edited at the Rice Electro-Acoustic Music Labs (REMLABS) under the tutelage of Kurt Stallmann.