FOG
Unaccompanied chorus SSAA
Duration: 3'
text: Carl Sandburg
Fog (2016) is scored for SSAA a cappella, set to Carl Sandburg’s 1916 poem Fog. Inspired by his walks near Chicago’s Grant Park, Sandburg crafted this brief yet evocative poem to capture the quiet, mysterious movement of fog as it gently settles over the city. This composition reflects his deep appreciation for nature, bringing to life the poem’s delicate imagery through choral expression.
LULLABY
Unaccompanied chorus SATB
Duration: 4'3''
text: Alfred Lord Tennyson
Lullaby (2017) is scored for SATB a cappella, set to an excerpt from The Princess, a poem by Alfred Lord Tennyson published in 1847. This gentle lullaby, sung by a mother to her child, is meant to soothe and comfort. The poem was chosen for its beautifully poetic and calming imagery of the blowing wind, the sea, and the sails, as well as its simple yet evocative language.
RAIN IN SUMMER
Unaccompanied chorus SATB
Duration: 3'
text: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Rain in summer (2018) is scored for SATB a cappella, set to an excerpt from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s 1866 poem Rain in Summer. The poem celebrates nature’s transformation as rain revitalizes the earth. Longfellow opens with the exclamation, “How beautiful is the rain!”—a joyful outburst that sets the tone for the piece. He vividly describes how the drizzle and downpour bring relief from summer’s heat and dust, marveling at the way rain washes over both narrow alleys and broad city streets. His admiration culminates once more in the refrain, “How beautiful is the rain!”
In this composition, I have sought to capture the exhilaration of a summer shower—the patter of raindrops, the rhythm of rain on rooftops—through varied melodic lines, rhythmic textures, and expressive articulations. In the poem’s final lines, Longfellow likens the rain to a force liberated from overflowing clouds, cascading freely from the sky—an image I have endeavored to reflect musically.
6 LULLABIES
for voice and piano
Duration: 10'
Text by Cheryl Williams, Kimberly L. Brennan-Smith and Irina Tokmakova
The 6 Lullabies for voice and piano were composed in 2012, the year my son, Dominic, was born. Like many parents, I sang and played lullabies to soothe him to sleep. This experience inspired me to create these six pieces.
While searching for texts to set to music, I discovered two beautiful poems: Sweet Dreams by Kimberly L. Brennan-Smith and Tiny One by Cheryl Williams. I was immediately drawn to the charming, loving, and calming language of both works. My collaboration with Ms. Williams extended to several other projects, including Lullaby – Sweet Dreams, Night Has Come, and Land of Dreams.
Later that year, I came across Сонная Трава (Magic Moss), a poem by Russian poet Irina Tokmakova. I was captivated by its poetic beauty and tranquil imagery of a magical forest, where an owl watches over an enchanted moss that holds a “sleepy spell”:
"In the forest, thick as walls,
In the peaceful darkness,
An owl rests upon a branch,
Watching over magic moss."
These lullabies hold a special place in my heart, reflecting the tenderness and wonder of those early days with my son.