Composer
Program Notes I am constantly drawn to the ‘dohe’ (couplets) of Kabir. His statements are pithy but their meanings are vast. They have been set and sung for hundreds of years in the Hindustani classical tradition, and they seem to meet each generation of performers and listeners in a unique way. This tiny couplet is … Read more
Program Notes We say the word “suffrage” when discussing voting rights, but do we know what it means? The word has roots in late Middle English and Latin, meaning “intercessory prayer,” the kind of prayer one offers on behalf of another. Trust the Ballot explores this connection, understanding that when we vote we don’t just voice our … Read more
Program Notes 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 of brass combined with the sheer breadth and text of the choir — the interplay of those two textures is … Read more
Program Notes Sunaao is a set of three pieces designed to introduce young choirs to the Hindi/Urdu language. Aao beckons us to share our musical traditions with one another, exploring changing open vowels. Khattar Pattar uses a distinctive style of Hindi/Urdu onomatopoeia to describe how we sometimes let our thoughts run out of control. Behta … Read more
Quarantine Madrigals — Postlude: “Together at Last” Program Notes Every restraint is an opportunity for a composer. During the pandemic, I thought about what it meant for choral singers, who are used to the feeling of singing together, to be isolated. What follows is a set of short, two-minute madrigals (yes, the title is a … Read more
See Me (community singing version) Program Notes forthcoming Recording forthcoming Special Performance Requirements This piece is written specifically for a combination of professional and community singers. It is designed to create a warm performance environment for those who might have never been on a stage before — by partnering with singers who are very comfortable … Read more