Composer
Program Notes This is an arrangement of the classic Christmas carol, I Wonder as I Wander. I’ve always loved the contemplative nature of this piece – and especially the beautiful arrangement by Luciano Berio. This is my take on the work — with a little flavor of Indian classical music in the ornamentation. The work … Read more
*version for concert band will be available shortly Program Notes excerpted from Seattle Symphony premiere notes: For Reena Esmail, Seattle Symphony’s Artist in Residence this season, RE|Member is a chance to explore what the world has gone through: “When I first spoke to Maestro Dausgaard about this piece, we thought it would be opening the 2020 season. … Read more
*this version will be available in Spring 2026 Program Notes Sandhiprakash(p/d), meaning ‘the joining of light’, is the term for a particular set of Hindustani raags that are performed at the moments of sunrise and sunset. In this piece for unaccompanied cello, the focus is on morning sandhiprakash raags Bhairav, Ahir Bhairav and Vibhas. I’m … Read more
Note: This piece (as well as Concerto for You, where this melody comes from) is designed specifically for young musicians. Program Notes for the full program note, visit the page for Concerto for You. This melody came from a work for choir that I never ended up writing — in that piece, I set a … Read more
Note: This is the Hindustani/period instrument version of this piece — for the version with soprano, please see Subah Shaam Program Notes I’ve always been fascinated by iconoclastic women — those who somehow saw beyond the societal conventions of their time, and chose to invest in their own, more expansive vision. Mirabai is one such … Read more
Program Notes (*for the program note for the entire large work please visit the Presence catalog page) Presence was the culminating work of a yearlong collaboration with Austin Classical Guitar — the title of the piece was the theme of ACG’s season. What does it mean to be present with one another? Guitar was my … Read more
Keval Shah and Jess Dandy (image by Clare Park) Program Notes Godsongs is a song cycle that traces the journey of the Bhagavad Gita (literally translated as ‘god song’). Woven interstitially through Western art song, these original Sanskrit settings of verses from the Gita open a direct channel into the dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna … Read more
Program Notes The title of this piece is a conglomeration of two words: the Italian word ‘tutti’, means ‘all’ or ‘everyone’, and the term ‘tarana’ designates a specific Hindustani (North Indian) musical form, whose closest Western counterpart is the ‘scat’ in jazz. The tarana is a place where musicians can put their greatest virtuosity on … Read more
Movement 2 of Exaltations — can be performed as an individual work for double choir and trombone. Program Notes (for entire set) Exaltations is a set of three interstitial works for double choir and brass quintet, written specifically to fit between the works on this program of Gabrieli and Bruckner. I love the sharp, sparkling attack and timbre … Read more
Program Notes Is it worthwhile, The pursuit of such radical thingsas summitless mountains? — Teddy McCoy* This work for solo bassoon initially emerged from a very different work: a 35-minute cantata-style work called Presence for eighty guitars, five singers, plus a solo guitar and solo bassoon. About halfway through that work, the bassoon breaks away into … Read more
I spent most of my early career as a musician as a piano teacher, and I loved teaching my students the fundamentals of piano, and setting them up well for whatever their musical life might look like. It was an absolute honor for me to contribute these new pieces to the 2024 edition of Piano … Read more
Program Notes (see the full version of Sunaao for program notes) Text (by Reena Bhansali) III. Behta Jaa Na-daal khud pe tu zyaada zorBhool jaao duniya ka yeh saara shorNadi ke saath behta jaaHavaa ke saath uṛta jaa Don’t be too hard on yourselfForget the noise of the worldGo on flowing with the riverGo on … Read more