LIST OF WORKS
Compositions commissioned by: Celebrity Series of Boston, Community MusicWorks, Freer-Sackler Museum and Silkroad Ensemble; Anikaya Dance Theatre; A Far Cry; Lorelei Ensemble; New Gallery Concert Series.
* All works self-published*
A Bird A Day set of compositions for solo violin, voice, and/or looping pedal (2012)
Based on composer’s recordings of birdsongs in Massachusetts, Maine, Oregon and California
Premiered at Acadia National Park by the composer
Arise for 18 string players (2013) site-specific composition
Based on three years of birdsong recording and research
Commissioned by A Far Cry chamber orchestra, choreographed for and premiered at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum by A Far Cry chamber orchestra
Peace is a Woman in a House (2015) for 8 female vocalists, Chinese calligrapher and violinist
Based on public art and engagement project, Water Graffiti for Peace
Commissioned by Lorelei Ensemble
Premiered at Boston University’s Marsh Chapel by the Lorelei Ensemble, Chinese calligrapher Mike Mei and violinist Shaw Pong Liu
Never Has Been Yet for vocalizing pianist (2017)
Based on Langston Hughes’ poem “Let America Be America Again”
Commissioned by New Gallery Concert Series, premiered at Cambridge Arts Association by pianist Sarah Bob
Recording by Sarah Bob, released by Avie Records 2019
From the Gut for shakuhachi, sheng, marimba and violin (2018)
Inspired by 14th-century Japanese “Amida” Buddha statue in Freer-Sackler collection
Commissioned by the Freer-Sackler Museum and the Silkroad Ensemble
Premiered at the Freer-Sackler Museum, Smithsonian Institute, by Silkroad Ensemble musicians: Wu Tong, sheng; Kojiro Umezaki, shakuhachi; Shane Shanahan, marimba; Shaw Pong Liu, violin
Recorded by Jody Elff for Freer-Sackler gallery audio tour
Conference of the Birds 5 compositions composed for international dance/movement theatre (2018)
Based on 13th-century Persian master Attar’s poem, “Conference of the Birds” and interviews with dancers
Commissioned by Anikaya Dance Theatre, premiered at Boston Center for the Arts.
Performed by Shaho Andalibi, ney; Fabio Pirozzolo, percussion; Andria Nicodemou, vibraphone; Deraldo Ferreira, berimbau; Dave Cordes, bass; Shaw Pong Liu, violin/erhu/voice; vocalists Margot Rood, Sarah Moyer, Aliana de la Guardia, Julia Cavallaro. Recording engineers: Joel Gordon, Reza Moggadas, Peter Atkinson, Jeremy Darby.
Compositions for Code Listen performance project: 9 Months, You Cannot, Evidence, Circle Up (2018)
Based on interviews with Code Listen members: mothers who’ve lost children to homicide, Boston police officers, and teen artists
Commissioned by Celebrity Series of Boston Neighborhood Arts
Premiered at Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston MA by members of A Far Cry string orchestra, violist Ashleigh Gordon, vocalist Nadia Washington, trumpet player Jason Palmer and the Code Listen ensemble
Traces for string quartet, string orchestra, and student string players (2020)
Based on over 20 interviews with community members/neighborhood residents and historical research
Commissioned by Community MusicWorks, premiered at Community MusicWorks (outdoor site of future building), Providence, Rhode Island, by Community MusicWorks collective and students
Tonglen for violin, cello and tabla (2020)
Based on the Tibetan Buddhist empathy-building meditation practice of tonglen.
Premiered by Soul Yatra Trio (Sandeep Das, tabla; Mike Block, cello; Shaw Pong Liu, violin) at Future Studios (online performance due to Covid)
Scenes From Surreality for clarinet, flute, violin and cello (2021)
Based on one year of quarantine, and interviews with musicians of Hub New Music
Commissioned by Celebrity Series of Boston Neighborhood Arts for Hub New Music
Premiered by Hub New Music (online performance due to Covid)
Patchwork for solo vocalizing cellist (2022)
Based on the commissioning question, “ What does your American-ness sound like?” and wrestling with prevalence of mass shootings in the United States
Commissioned by cellist Leo Eguchi
Premiered by Leo Eguchi at Pao Arts Center, Boston, MA
Compositions for The Women Gather dance theatre project (2022)
vocal and body percussion music for dancers to perform
Commissioned by Anikaya Dance Theatre
Premiered by dancers’ ensemble at the Strand Theatre, Dorchester, Boston, MA
Secret Grove for all to sing (2025)
Based on the wisdom and witness of trees
Commissioned by Windsor Music for the Song of the Spirit project, premiered by Winsor musicians and audience at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Brookline, MA