Mother of Exiles

flute (doubling alto & picc.), Bb clarinet, violin, cello, contrabass (C ext.), piano, and percussion (2004)

Program Note

What must our Lady of Liberty be thinking? Staunchly guarding the New York harbor, sending a beacon of light still, but now a museum, what are her sonic memories of mothers singing to comfort their children? Mother of Exiles, your huddled masses are now at our southern borders, where there is a wall instead of a beacon of hope. How do we create a more perfect union, when we are faced so dramatically with the imperfections of our past and our present? What would that union sound like?

I want to express my appreciation to the cultures that created the lullabies quoted in this work: Syria, Nigeria, and the Andes region. My hope is that our shared concerns of caring for the young might bring these disparate voices together to forge a sustainable future. Any royalties from performances of this work will be donated to Unicef, the United Nations agency for children.