Commissioned by the University of Michigan Music Department and Joseph Gramley for the duo Organized Rhythm: Joseph Gramley, marimba and Clive Driskill-Smith, organ.
There are three sections in this piece that merge into each other. They are titled, “an ethereal bright light”, “converge and accelerate”, and, “gliding to infinity”.
Aria is adapted from a larger work, an opera-in-progress, called Fordlandia, about the struggle for succession of power between Henry and his son Edsel at the Ford Motor Company. Evangeline, the secretary and mistress of Henry Ford, sings the aria. In this five-part work for violin and piano, we hear Evangeline’s Aria, an expression of love and triumph, at the end in the fifth and final section. The four sections that lead up to the finale imagine a dialogue and interaction about their complicated relationship.
This work was commissioned by organist Jessie Jewitt and premiered at St. Marks Church in Palo Alto, California with Romain Kang, violin. The work is in two movements entitled "Clear Light" and "Heart of Grace".
Commissioned by Patricia and Greg Zuber. Premiered at the Malletech Leigh Howard Stevens Summer Marimba Seminar. The excerpt here is live from the New York Chamber Music Festival, September 12, 2010 at Symphony Space, NYC.
WINNER for Best Documentary Short Tribeca Film Festival. Ensemble version for live performance accompanying a screening of the film.
Dedicated to multi-percussionist Joseph Gramley, who has performed this work frequently in concert and at master classes throughout the US. Recorded on Joseph Gramley's CD Global Percussion.