PROJECT : ENCORE™: Epiphany

Although Valley of Silence is a lengthy one movement work, there are various tempi, colors, and moods in the piece as they follow Rev. Ryan's post Civil War poem. This particular poem  is from Ryan's later writings and is sweeter yet more powerful compared to the earlier bitterness of his post war poems. The poem's message of blocking out the “noise” and busyness of our world applies even more today than the times after the Civil War.

For information, please contact Jeannine Wagner, conductor of The Wagner Ensemble who gave the work a second performance.  Premiered by The Gregg Smith Singers, Saranac Lake, NY, July, 1999 through a Meet The Composers grant. More recently, beautifully performed by The Wagner Ensemble, Jeannine Wagner conducting.  Recording is from The Wagner Ensemble performance
 

 Inspired by Gregorian Chat "Benedicta es" for the International Josquin Conference at Princeton University 1999

 I composed my Alleluia in memory of the firefighter son of friends of mine. He died at the WTC on 9/11. My response was to create an Alleluia that has a combination of
power, anger and resignation. The singers in the Chicago Chorale heard strong references to the Dies Irae, and I retroactively agree: the intervallic structure I chose is reminiscence of that source. It was, however, an unconscious reference.

I chose this text because I think it asks us to acknowledge the minor misdeeds and omissions we permit in our everyday lives. So often we make small allowances for ourselves, fudge things that are difficult for us, or mistreat our loved ones in little ways. Most of the time we allow ourselves to ignore these things, hoping that nobody, perhaps not even ourselves, will notice. I think that those small things are often far more important than they seem, and I hope that this text, and this piece, will remind us to be more careful of ourselves and of one another.

In this work I try to give musical representations of joyful shouts and jubilant song, the vast calm of the sea, mystical murmurs by rivers and mountains, and human hope in the "strong right arm" of the King of the universe. I am a melodic composer, and I try to use a supporting harmonic language that is interesting and challenging to the performers, yet accessible and comprehensible to listeners.