Composer
Program Notes Nadiya (p) means ‘rivers’ in Hindi. In this work, I imagine two different streams intersecting — pushing and pulling against one another, tripping over each other, flowing into each other to create mellifluous, cascading melodies. The piece is in a composite of two Hindustani raags: Jog and Vachaspati — both have a light … Read more
Program Notes Nadiya (p) means ‘rivers’ in Hindi. In this work, I imagine two different streams intersecting — pushing and pulling against one another, tripping over each other, flowing into each other to create mellifluous, cascading melodies. The piece is in a composite of two Hindustani raags: Jog and Vachaspati — both have a light … 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
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 Love Between Us is a piece about unity. Its seven movements juxtapose the words of seven major religious traditions of India (Buddhism, Sikhism, Christianity, Zoroastrianism, Hinduism, Jainism and Islam), and specifically how each of these traditions approaches the topic of unity, of brotherhood, of being kind to one another. The texts come either … Read more
SKIP TO INFORMATION ON THIS VERSION Take What You Need is more than just a piece of music. It is a warm, safe, equitable space, where musicians and community can connect with one another, where stories can come forward, and where the foundations of a relationship can be built and nurtured. Bring Take What You … Read more
SKIP TO INFORMATION ON THIS VERSION Take What You Need is more than just a piece of music. It is a warm, safe, equitable space, where musicians and community can connect with one another, where stories can come forward, and where the foundations of a relationship can be built and nurtured. Bring Take What You … 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
NOTE: This is a reduced version of the work — movements 1, 3 and 4, rescored for women’s choir and flute obbligato. It is designed to be more mobile and flexible, and was rearranged for the commissioning group’s touring ensemble. Program Notes The genre of women’s choral music is very special to me. The first … Read more
Program Notes When I lived in India in 2012, I was introduced to the work of Manav Kaul, an incredible Hindi-language playwright, actor and poet living in Mumbai. Hindi is a language that has become increasingly anglicized in its evolution. While there is so much beautiful ancient work in Sanskrit and Brijbasha (some of Hindi’s … Read more