To commemorate the 9th anniversary of 9/11, I’m releasing Nigun for the Victims of Terror, which I composed following this unprecedented event. My feelings, like many people at the time, were primarily those of immense sadness — for the people who died that day, their family, friends and for those affected directly and indirectly. In the months afterward, I began to sing a melody, more moan or wail than music. This eventually grew into the work heard here, scored for bass, violin, alto flute, piano, and soprano. Unable to find words that felt right, I called the piece Nigun, which is a wordless prayer from the Jewish tradition. This freed me to use the voice in a more instrumental way, combining it with alto flute and the other instruments, to create unique timbres and colors.
Nigun was selected as winner of the New Music Works Sound Horizons student composition competition and this recording is from the subsequent performance by New Music Works on February 23, 2002.
Love this, so hard core. The return of the descending scale at the end brought it all together. The staggered entrances of each instrument was magnificent. Especially the piano entrance. And the Sighing effect with the violin, really kick ass!
Thanks DMR. That means a lot coming from some one who’s been around such great music for all his death.