for Mezzo-Soprano and String Quartet or Mezzo-Soprano and Piano

Duration: 16 minutes

Written for Melinda Martinez Becker & Anne Rainwater with support from InterMusicSF

Canto Caló (I sing Caló / Caló songs) was originally commissioned by New Moon Duo and conceived at Avaloch Farm in New Hampshire and has since been arranged for Melinda and Friction Quartet. Caló is the language created by Pachucos in the Southwest through California, commonly associated with mambo dancing, zoot suit wearing Chicanos from El Paso to California, but it’s become a national movement with language, fashion, food, and art still taking inspiration from it decades later.

for Tenor, Oboe, and String Quartet

Duration: 28:00

Commissioned by Elizabeth and Justus Schlichting in honor of Mike Pandolfi.

When we promise to care for loved ones in sickness and in health as part of marriage, many of us assume that those vows will not be tested for many decades. What if a new and exciting romance was tested at its very inception? How do we best cherish precious moments together?

Sueño en mi sueño(dream in my dream) is a collection of six love sonnets by Pablo Neruda that explore the depth of love in times of sickness, inspired by a true story. These iconic poems use symbols of loneliness, dreams, and death to describe the feeling of being away from your lover, even for a moment.

For voice and piano.

Text by Mark Saltzman

Commissioned by Boston Court Pasadena

For soprano and piano. 5:00

Poetry by Ross Gay

Commissioned by Boston Court Pasadena

For two guitars and treble voice. 5:30

Commissioned and premiered by SopraDuo.

Text by Rumi, trans. Coleman Barks.