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
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 Sun Sundar Sargam sets a beautiful, bespoke text by lyricist Reena Bhansali, about the power of listening through the metaphor of music. The piece was commissioned by BBC Singers specifically for the BBC Ten Pieces, a group of ten pieces that is taught in the UK music curriculum each year. The lyrics are … Read more
*all info forthcoming Program Notes (forthcoming) Recording (will post when available) Texts Special Performance Requirements Audio Guide These are not available publicly yet, but can be made available to your ensemble if you are programming this work. Additional Information Premiere/Performances Sun Sundar Sargam was commissioned by the BBC Singers, and was premiered by The BBC … 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
*This work has not yet been completed. All info below will be available after the completion of the work in 2026. Program Notes Recording Audio Guide Premiere/Performances Press/Reviews
*This work has not yet been completed. All info below will be available after the completion of the work in 2026. Program Notes Recording Text Performances Press/Reviews
*This work has not yet been completed. All info below will be available after the premiere of the work in 2027. Program Notes Recording Audio Guide Premiere/Performances Press/Reviews
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
Description The community songbook is a collection of songs and short pieces that I’ve written over the years for communities. This collection is licensed under Creative Commons, and is available for free download (see sidebar to download) This volume contains: More songs will be added as they are written. You do not need any permission/clearance … Read more