Stay a while!

Please grab some coffee, tea, or your favorite drink and enjoy my work. I’d love to provide some respite for you- that’s why I do this.

Choral

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    Dust of Snow is a setting of a Robert Frost poem. I set it as a chamber choir piece that is a capella. I use voices to set a scene of a solemn winter landscape.

    Dust of Snow – Robert Frost (1874 – 1963)

    The way a crow Shook down on me The dust of snow From a hemlock tree

    Has given my heart A change of mood And saved some part Of a day I had rued.

  • This piece is a setting of the Emily Dickinson poem of the same name. The poem is purposefully not set to music in its completion because it is the introduction to my larger work called: Saining Songs

    The Outlet (162): Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886)

    My river runs to thee: Blue sea, wilt welcome me?

    My river waits reply. Oh sea, look graciously!

    I'll fetch thee brooks From spotted nooks,—

    Say, sea, Take me!

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    I got the idea for Stars while thinking about a very cold night I spent stargazing with friends. I remember the feeling of awe and wonder, while fighting the urge to run back to my warm sleeping bag. I came across the poem and wrote the piece in about a day, something that is very rare for me.

    I saw no way, the heavens were stitched (378): Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1986)

    I saw no Way—The Heavens were stitched— I felt the Columns close— The Earth reversed her Hemispheres— I touched the Universe—

    And back it slid—and I alone— A Speck upon a Ball— Went out upon Circumference— Beyond the Dip of Bell

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    I knew I wanted to have a culminating piece for this project, but really fought to find the correct text and music for it. I had a chord progression and nothing else for a long time-at least 2 years. Two years ago, I was on a road trip from Texas to Colorado, and was reading Emily Brontë poetry, I came across her poem: “Ah! Why, because The Dazzling Sun”. It spoke to me very vividly. The edited poem is in the text section of the program, but I implore you to look up and read the full poem. In 2024, I started writing and it came together very quickly. I used a lot of melodic material from the other pieces in the project to give a sense of finality.

    Ah! Why, because The Dazzling Sun (edited by me): Emily Brontë (1830 – 1986)

    The soul of Nature sprang elate, But mine sank sad and low! O Stars and Dreams and Gentle Night; O Night and Stars return!

    And hide me from the hostile light That does not warm, but burn— That drains the blood of suffering men; Drinks tears, instead of dew: Let me sleep through his blinding reign, And only wake with you!

    The soul of Nature sprang elate, I was at peace, and drank your beams As they were life to me But mine sank sad and low!

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    I started writing this piece in early 2023. My outlets for my personal struggles are usually kept in my songwriting journal. However, as I read the text by Robert Frost- I instantly connected. The notion of struggling with forgiveness and realizing that living in the mistakes of others is not worth the struggle put on oneself is beautiful to me. Above that, it’s a withdrawal from oneself that ultimately leads to more suffering. This realization in my personal life was not a sudden “Pang” for me- this is reflected in the music. To me, it was a changing—morphing thought.

    A Dream Pang: Robert Frost (1874 – 1963)

    I had withdrawn in forest, and my song Was swallowed up in leaves that blew alway; And to the forest edge you came one day (This was my dream) and looked and pondered long, But did not enter, though the wish was strong: You shook your pensive head as who should say, ‘I dare not—too far in his footsteps stray— He must seek me would he undo the wrong. Not far, but near, I stood and saw it all

    Behind low boughs the trees let down outside; And the sweet pang it cost me not to call And tell you that I saw does still abide. But ’tis not true that thus I dwelt aloof, For the wood wakes, and you are here for proof.

Instrumental

Piano and Viola

  • For Piano and Viola

  • For Piano and Viola

  • For Piano and Viola

Piano and Violin

  • For Piano and Violin

String Quartet

Mixed instrument Chamber

  • For Piano, Violin, Clarinet, Trombone, and Bass Drum

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    For Vibraphone and Alto Saxophone