Composer
Program Notes In its original version, RE|Member is a wildly colorful overture for orchestra, sandwiched between two plaintive solos for oboe. In the opening solo, a recorded oboist on a screen plays alone in her living room, and at the end of the overture, the onscreen oboist returns to play a duet — with the … Read more
Program Notes Pranayam is a suite of short encounters with different types of active breath. The word pranayam literally describes ‘a harnessing of the life force’. Each movement is based on a specific breath pattern commonly used in yoga practice. Dirgh is a three-part inhale, expanding the belly, diaphragm and chest in succession. Kapalbhati is … 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
While the original version of this work is for wind quintet, I made an arrangement for flute, oboe and piano for the Aglow Trio. 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 … 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 Nadia Anjuman (1980-2005) was a brilliant young Afghan poet whose life was tragically cut short, as she was brutally murdered by her own husband at the age of 25. Many of her poems express her feelings of being censored and unable to say what is in her mind and heart– something she was … Read more
Program Notes It is difficult for me to find something insightful to say about a piece that is so close to my heart. I think Rilke’s text says it best. Recording This is a recording of the original version of Two Tones, for soprano, violin and piano. The oboe/English horn version has not been recorded … Read more
Program Notes The Whole Story is a three movement oboe sonata I wrote for oboist Josiane Henry in 2005. It is an early piece for me, and rarely performed now, but it’s still in my catalog for an important reason. People often ask young composers to define their musical ‘voice’ — often prematurely. We can … Read more