This Union you want With the earth and sky, This union we all need with love, A golden wing from God’s heart just Touched the ground, Now Step upon it With your brave sun-vows And help our eyes To Dance! Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky in The Gift Download the score: This Union
Category: Chamber
Threads for flute choir (2021)
Threads was inspired by simple Renaissance melodic imitation techniques, specifically “stretto fuga.” I learned about the technique from the YouTube channel Early Music Sources and decided to play with it a little and see what I could make. The end result also draws on my influence from the dissonant counterpoint found in mid-20th Century American…
Monsters for solo guitar (2020)
I read a lot of comics and I always enjoy when I can talk about comic book stories and such. When Andy Jurik approached me about writing a new piece, he was specifically interested in the comic My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris. Going through the story I found there were so many…
Folds for SATB soloists or choir (2020)
Folds was composed as a dance collaboration with Heather Trommer-Beardslee and Ann Dasen to represent aspects of vocal biology. The work’s four section trace the development of breath into utterance, utterance into words, and words into music. The piece was composed to celebrate World Voice Day in 2020 for Joshua May at Columbus State University….
Two Shorter Songs for medium voice and alto sax (2020)
Two Shorter Songs was originally composed for countertenor Jerry Hui and saxophonist Aaron Durst. Whenever a composer is given the opportunity to write for a countertenor with perfect pitch, we are honor-bound to do so! I am thrilled that Jerry and Aaron were open to me writing for them. Texts by Dora Sigerson Shorter Beware…
Imaginary Stories (2018)
I read a lot of comic books and Superman remains one of my favorite characters. Alan Moore and Curt Swan’s Whatever Happened to the Man of Tomorrow is, I think, one of the best Superman stories of all time. The opening prolog of the book (which is one of the stories portraying Superman’s death) establishes…
Word of the Day for voice, flute, and bass clarinet (2015)
This piece was composed for Tracy Watson and the Crescent Duo (Joanna and Kennen White). Based on the poem “Orbs (Word of the Day)” by Joanna White. Download the score (original flute + bass clarinet version): Word of the Day Download the score (voice + piano version): Word of the Day A recording can be…
Ryonen’s Clear Realization for speaking percussion trio (2014)
I first heard the koan about Ryonen on the Daily Buddhism podcast. At first, I was struck by the Zen teachers’ reactions to Ryonen since their views on her beauty offended my more contemporary feminist attitudes. The story stuck with me and I kept thinking about it. The more I sat with it the more…
Sufi Songs for voice and piano (2014)
I composed these two pieces for LaToya Lain and pianist Casey Robards. These texts about love made such an impact on me that I just had to share them with as many people as possible. Download the score: Sufi Songs
Two Slow Movements
Composed for the Central Michigan University New Music Ensemble, both movements are typical of my current compositional output. Harmonies are based on the repetition of a simple interval pattern and long lyrical melodies weave their way through these chaconnes. The rhythms and colors are rather plain, unadorned, and far from ornate. The directness and simplicity…