The two years 2017 and 2018 may prove the most pivotal yet for my music. 2017 saw the premiere of a major orchestra work, my Sinfonietta; the completion and premiere of my piano suite Sargent’s Women; the continuing development and performance of my dramatic song cycle (with poet/soprano Emma Stace Darling) Girl on Fire; and the composition and premiere of my second chamber work with Korean traditional instruments, Nonghyun. Four quite different strands of creativity – orchestra, piano, vocal, and cross-cultural musics – and each attained a new fluency. 2017 was a time of stretching out, and also of going deeper. Moreover, 2017 was the year when I made the decision to refocus on composing after a long and extremely fulfilling tenure at the New
Read more →In early February, after completing the New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts for Schools, presenting composers of the Harlem Renaissance, I will leave my post as Vice President, Education. For the first time in 16 years, I will have no full-time employment! – and I’m looking forward to fulfilling multiple commissions, traveling to performances of my music, and being open to new artistic and educational leadership opportunities. First work on the docket: a duo for haegeum (Korean traditional two-string fiddle) and cello, continuing my relationship with gugak music and instruments. Then, for something completely different, adding more songs to the developing work Girl on Fire, a collaboration with the remarkable poet/soprano/artist Emma Stace Darling. And on and on – can’t wait!
Read more →Another step in my journey with gugak, the traditional music of Korea: I completed Nonghyun, a string quintet with gayageum, the traditional Korean plucked string instrument. More specifically, I composed for sanjo gayageum, a 12-string variety, which is quite challenging to work with in a chromatic context. Nonghyun is the technical term for the wide vibrato typical of this instrument – a sound largely foreign to Western strings and therefore, tasty to explore in chamber music. Gayageum master Ji Aeri will join the marvelous Borromeo String Quartet for the premiere in late October at the Pacific Rim Music Festival!
Read more →I’m so excited about performing again with Emma Stace Darling, the poet/soprano/muse of Girl on Fire. This growing collaboration – now eight songs and counting, my music to Emma’s poetry – will have its first UK performance on April 7. Always excited to work with Emma, to meet new audiences, but also to appear as pianist! Practicing a lot. And looking forward to setting up shop at the gorgeous Fairlight Hall. All this follows directly on the New York Philharmonic’s biennial residency at the Barbican Centre, where I’m involved with several educational initiatives. Very nice combination for the upcoming journey.
Read more →I’m beginning to dream in gugak again. Yes, I’m beginning a new piece for gayageum, the enchanting traditional Korean zither, with string quartet. My first foray into music inspired by traditional Korean music (gugak) was Mudang, for piri (traditional oboe) and string quartet. The success of that work – surprisingly enough, one of my most-performed pieces – deepened my interest in gugak, leading me to spend ten days at the National Gugak Center in Seoul studying it in more depth last summer. Now I have the opportunity to compose a work for premiere at the Pacific Rim Music Festival next fall, for gayageum great Ji Aeri and the fabulous Borromeo Quartet. Combining eastern and western instruments presents challenges for sure, especially if one aims, as
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