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…
News and Blog
Danger Tree for horn and fixed media (2019)
The first World War was particularly devastating to the population of the Canadian province of Newfoundland, in which it has been said that every family on the island suffered a loss in the conflict. Prior to 1949, Newfoundland was a colony of the British Empire and during the first World War, the Royal Newfoundland Regiment…
Slipping By (2020)
Slipping By is a collaborative dance film created with Heather Trommer-Beardslee, Ann Dasen, Paul Collins, and Eric Limarenko. The inspiration came from how the spirits of the past can continue to inhabit a space even after they are gone. The film has been accepted to the International Fine Arts Film Festival, IMARP – Mostra Internacional de…
What the Voyeur Wants (2019)
Choreographer Andrea Purrenhage and I were talking about possible projects and over the course of the discussion we realized that we were both inspired by the poem: “What the Voyeur Wants” by CMU faculty poet Jeffrey Bean. The poet’s reading of his work forms the backbone of the piece. The choreography for solo dancer was…
Calling for euphonium and drone (2014)
Very often, it seems, my music takes on a life of its own. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do when I started this composition but it didn’t take long for the piece to decide what it wanted to be. The sources of the tape part are not important. The inspiration for the…
Used Illusions for glissando flute and concert band (2017)
Used Illusions is a short concerto for glissando flute and concert band. The whole work follows a traditional three movements structure of fast-slow-fast and each movement is built from motives as gestures found in Guns n’ Roses albums. The first movement, “Loco,” draws inspiration from the driving and propulsive “Locomotive” off of Use Your Illusion…
All My Thoughts are the Same for solo cello (2018)
All My Thoughts are the Same started as four miniatures for solo cello. As I worked on these miniatures, I started to notice certain similarities and connections between the material in each one. For fun, I started to weave back and forth through these short fragments and much to my surprise, it worked. And somehow…
Reflections on the Nature of Impermanence for tenor sax and snare drum (2017)
In early 2017 I was experiencing some of the worst burnout I’ve ever had. Stress from all sides of my life was my only companion. I could only focus on what I needed to do an hour at a time, a minute at a time, a moment at a time. I was struggling with just…
A Dream of Fabled Lands for voice and piano (2017)
This song cycle was composed in 2017 while I was on a Ucross Foundation Artist Residency during my sabbatical. The text is drawn from the poetry of Elizabeth Browning. Insufficiency I Inclusions The Lady’s Yes A Musical Instrument A Reed Life and Love Insufficiency II The score includes the original and alternate versions of some…
A Draft of Guinness for voice and piano (2018)
I started composing this song for my friend and colleague Keith Clifton in late 2017. I finally finished the setting in early 2018. The text is taken from a letter written by Alec Guinness while he was on the set of Star Wars. jaybatzner · A Draft of Guinness Download the score: Draft of Guinness