2014+10 Young Afro Future

“Young Afro Future” (2014) is the third movement of Tijani and the final movement of Children’s Suite (2007-2014), which comprises a trio of three-movement pieces for solo piano dedicated to my children. I’m posting it today in honour of my son turning 10. There are three melodic ideas. The first is a pattern of ascending fourths in the right hand… Continue reading 2014+10 Young Afro Future

2004+20 aix

aix (“waters”), for two pianos, is a short study in rising and falling patterns, with alternating chordal and canonic textures. It’s a slightly unsettled lullaby, composed on “04 04 04” (April 4, 2004, the 36th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.). The primary melodic shape, an ascending seventh followed by a descending… Continue reading 2004+20 aix

Ann Southam Interview Fragment

In August 1999, while I was co-hosting Radio Music Gallery, I was fortunate to have composer Ann Southam (1937-2010) as a guest. It was optional content for the show, unrelated to promoting the concert calendar at The Music Gallery, but more than relevant to the focus of the organization in those years. Early on a Friday morning,… Continue reading Ann Southam Interview Fragment

ex tempore Playlist

I made a playlist to explore the influences and lifetime inspirations behind my upcoming new work ex tempore (exempla ex tempore: “examples from time”).

ex tempore World Premiere

On Thursday, February 1, 2024, as part of New Encounters, the Array Ensemble will give the premiere performance of my new work ex tempore (ik’stempəri – out of the moment / out of time / at the time / from time), for flute, clarinet, percussion, violin, and cello. The piece is dedicated to the memory… Continue reading ex tempore World Premiere

1993+30 Afroid

The title Afroid alludes to my biraciality and refers obliquely to the term “negroid” that was used to identify me on my birth records. In that sense, it’s a satirical correction of the term. The piece was created on the Korg M1’s eight-track sequencer as a quick sketch. (Because of the device’s limited memory, my sequences rarely survived beyond a day… Continue reading 1993+30 Afroid

1993+30 After EP

After (1993) is an unreleased DIY concept album, which was originally created as the score to the dance show “Land of the Living,” performed by the McMaster Dancers under the artistic direction of Dave Wilson. The show was performed in Hamilton, Boston and Lyon. This opportunity resulted in my first trip overseas. There are seven movements,… Continue reading 1993+30 After EP