Three Ways to Cook a Fish is a suite of three dances originally written for oboe and "electronic gamelan." The "Three Ways" are not so much about particular recipes, but about modern approaches to cooking. Much in this work must be credited to the collaboration with dancer/choreographer Cheryl Koehler, and her dancers Marguerite Fishman and Ann DiFruscia. This piece makes use of 6-note (not quite pentatonic) scales, sonorous cluster chords to evoke bell-like effects, various "extended" oboe techniques (e.g., overblowing and multiphonics) and rhythmic ostinatos of various cultural derivations. Two interludes were added to give the pianist relief from ostinato duties.

Ignis Fatuus was written in Baltimore this fall. It is a six-minute buildup of sound on one piano, featuring patterns that pile up as the piece progresses, nearly spinning out of control. Ignis Fatuus is the name for a natural electric phenomenon, spectral lights that appear in the night in sporadic places across the U.S. The literal translation is "foolish fire" and this is what I had in mind as I worked on the piece. Thanks to Alexis, Lisa and Erling for bringing it to life. .

Blues in B Flat attempts to expand the standard 12-bar blues form into new territory. As in the traditional blues, each 12-measure stanza is a variation of the original. Blues in B Flat... ventures beyond the usual modal melodies and harmonies as each variation becomes an exploration of selected contemporary compositional styles. The piece becomes successively more dissonant as is travels from tame chromaticism, through serialism and finally to minimalism. Throughout the composition, the original blues progression is still heard. The intended result is whimsical, sometimes challenging and a non-conventional blend of styles.

A year ago I was searching for a concept for a new piece of chamber music. Although I knew I wanted to include a bass clarinet and alto flute, I wasn’t sure what else I would use ­ via instrumentation or themes ­ to pull it all together for a interesting “story.” While riding home on Muni one afternoon, fretting about where to find my new inspiration, I suddenly looked around and saw the remarkable collection of individuals on the bus. I realized that ideas were all around me, in the form of people I saw periodically in my neighborhood. A sextet was transformed into themes, including a skateboarder that appears in the first and final movements. The final movement overlays all the themes to create a “gossip.” Most of this music was written while at the Djerassi Resident Artist Program (Woodside, California) in January 2005.

Dances of Death by Beeri Moalem

Brightness is dedicated to my friend Mona Baroudi who reminded me that I could sometimes write music without a text. However, I couldn't resist using Dan Bellm's lovely and moving poem about the death of his father in the last section. My own father died a few years ago, and I'd like this piece to be a small memorial to him, but it also contains a kernel of my emotions for my own son. Thanks also to Rachel Condry, who motivated me to write this piece initially and who has featured role, and to Micah Epps for singing it so beautifully.