My Sinfonietta (2016) captures moments of spiritual experience, 21st century music inspired by the 14th century Sufi mystic Hafez – vignettes of hilarity, wonder, confusion, clamor. In West Virginia 2018 it connected with musicians and audiences in the most gratifying ways. The West Virginia Symphony and Music Director Lawrence Loh recently gave the first performances of the revised version (the South Dakota Symphony and Delta David Gier premiered the original version in 2017), first in the beautiful Clay Center in Charleston, then in a middle school auditorium in Parkersburg. (WVSO somehow fit The Planets onto that stage!) In both places, audience members had so much to say to me. Modesty prevents my quoting directly; suffice it to say, musicians enjoyed it more, the more they played it, and found its challenges rewarding; listeners without musical background were stimulated and moved in ways I hadn’t even imagined. I am astonished anew at the power of this art we are privileged to practice. My deep thanks to the people of West Virginia for this affirming experience! I hope to see you again soon.
