Composer
*this work has not yet been premiered Program Notes One of the hardest lessons for me to learn in this practice of composing has been that the greatest creativity comes from learning how to hit every mark perfectly — and then letting that tightly wound control begin to slowly unravel. The title (a portmanteau of … Read more
Program Notes These two etudes my contribution to Joshua Anderson’s volume New 32 — sets of fast and slow etudes by different living composers, each in response to a set from the original 32 Rose Etudes that are a staple of clarinet pedagogy. My two etudes, the ‘A minor’ ones, are actually in Hindustani ragas … Read more
Program Notes The first time I saw one of Shankar Tucker’s videos on YouTube, almost five years ago, I knew I wanted to write him this concerto. I didn’t know him back then: I was just one of his millions of fans from around the world, who was so deeply moved to see a musician … Read more
This is the original version of The Light is the Same, for woodwind quintet. Program Notes Religions are manyBut God is oneThe lamps may be differentBut the Light is the same Like many people, I spent the last half of 2016 trying to make sense of what was happening in our country and in our … Read more
Program Notes This piece was originally written for violin and piano. These are the program notes for the original work. When writing this piece, to be based upon Indian folksong, I cast a wide net for source material – I scoured the internet and my large collection of Indian music, listening to everything from Bengali … Read more
Program Notes Even After All This Time… takes its text from a beautiful quote by 14th century Persian poet, Hafiz, in a translation by Daniel Ladinsky. The text of the piece is simply: Even after all this time,the sun never says to the earth,“You owe me.”Look what happenswith a love like that:it lights the whole sky. Ladinsky’s texts are not direct translations — rather, they are … Read more
Program Notes Tasveer marks a very special point for me as a composer. During the 2011-2012 year, I was living in India on a Fulbright grant, studying Hindustani classical music. My days there were filled with music, between Hindustani vocal lessons, attending concerts, constantly meeting new musicians and playing with them. I was so busy … Read more