Published on
Contemporary music ensemble Alarm Will Sound has released Riffscape, a new work by composer Seda Balci on its YouTube channel. Balci was one of eight composers selected to participate in the 2025 Mizzou International Composers Festival.
The piece was recorded at Columbia’s Missouri Theatre during its world premiere performance in July, as part of the 2025 MICF. Alarm Will Sound is the MICF Resident Ensemble and includes two University of Missouri School of Music faculty members, Stefan Freund and Bill Kalinkos. Freund is a Professor of Music Composition, the Artistic Director of the Mizzou New Music Initiative, and Director of the Mizzou New Music Ensemble. Kalinkos teaches clarinet and co-directs the Mizzou Creative Improvisation Collective.
Balci said the of piece, “Riffscape is an experimental reflection of my years immersed in metal music. I’ve always been obsessed with the riffs of Opeth, one of my favorite progressive metal bands, and I felt it was finally time to translate those sounds into my own musical language. The title Riffscape comes from that idea: a sonic landscape of recurring riffs. It’s a highly rhythmic piece where percussion plays a central role, and you’ll hear a lot of energy, drive, and raw texture.”
Watch the new video on YouTube.
Alarm Will Sound’s next appearance in Columbia will be at 7:30 p.m. January 20 in 130 Sinquefield Music Center.
More information on Seda Balci can be found here.
A brief interview with the composer for the 2025 MICF can be found here.
To stay up to date with all Mizzou New Music Initiative announcements, follow them on Instagram and Facebook: @MizzouNewMusic