With great anticipation, I am heading to Seoul for ten days’ intensive study of gugak, traditional Korean instruments and musical genres, through a workshop offered by the National Gugak Center. Having been to Korea many times, I’ve become enamored of its traditional culture and the many colorful, evocative kids of music found there. Already I’ve composed MUDANG (“shaman”) for piri and string quartet, based on principles of sanjo. With the opportunity to study more instruments and genres in depth, I can only imagine what new musical influences will find their way into my music!
Read more →Although we’re still in the thick of the concert season at the New York Philharmonic and in cultural life, I’m actively composing, working with poet and soprano Emma Stace Darling on a dramatic cantata called Girl on Fire. She’s visiting for six weeks from Bologna for our collaboration. Our first workshop performance of six of our songs was well received at Spectrum on April 22. Next up, a more developed presentation at the National Opera Center May 18. Check out her poetry, for instance the first book, Girl on Fire. (And check out those paintings on her website, too!)
Read more →I am thrilled to have been invited to participate in the 2016 International Gugak Workshop in Seoul, this June. Composing Mudang – working closely with piri player Gamin immersing myself in a small corner of Korea traditional music culture – seemed to open a creative door for me. I can’t wait to throw more doors open as I become familiar with more traditional instruments and more genres of music. Connected with this opportunity is the chance to compose a work combining Korean and western instruments for a US tour of the National Gugak Orchestra in 2017!
Read more →What a full, rewarding day I had at Harvard recently, through the Learning from Performers program of the Office for the Arts. I began with Morning Prayer in Memorial Church, where my new anthem There Is a New Creation was sung so beautifully by the morning choir led by Edward Jones. Then I had a very stimulating 90 minutes with arts in education students at the Graduate School of Education; a lunch with curious undergrads at the Office of Career services; more lunch, fellowship, and music at the Signet Society; and finally, Music 51 – the freshman theory class that changed everything for me. The brilliant Yoonie Han was on hand to play my El Jaleo for the class as we explored the relationship between theory and composition.
Read more →I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of Emma Stace Darling, poet, painter, and singer. I have been at work on a song cycle based on her astounding poetry, for her to sing. Because she lives in Italy and the UK, her arrival in New York in February brings a chance finally to work directly together. Our song cycle – titled after her first book of poetry, Girl on Fire – is conceived with some sort of staging in mind. Stay tuned for information about workshops! (And check out those paintings on her website, too.)
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