Commissioned by Chamber Music America with generous funding provided by the Mellon Foundation
While traveling in Algeria, my host, Rostom invited a few of his friends who lived nearby in Beni Isguen, the gateway to the vast Sahara. At one point, one of his friends said to me almost casually, “You are lucky to travel. We are prisoners here. We can’t go anywhere.” This was a striking and sobering moment and a reminder that many, many people around the world either do not have the means or are simply unable to leave their country of birth even if they desperately wanted to. Rostom and his friends proceeded to describe in detail for me the perils of leaving Algeria for Europe—how difficult the crossing of the Mediterranean is, and so on. The first movement has a nervous energy. The second movement is a short lullaby: perhaps hope that those who want a new to place to live may find a peaceful place to sleep. Finally, after a short dream-like intermezzo, the last movement, Prisoners, is a simple but stern movement, and often the voices in the quartet struggle to break free from one another.
Premiered by the Attacca Quartet in September 2019
2025
Co-commissioned by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Chamber Music Houston, and Chamber Music Monterey Bay for the Escher Quartet
2022
This work was commissioned by La Jolla SummerFest and premiered at the Conrad in La Jolla, CA in August 2022.
2021
Written for Edgar Meyer and the Dover Quartet in 2021
2020
Commissioned by the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts
2018
Commissioned By Chamber Music Northwest, With Support From New Music USA
2018
Commissioned By Efe Baltacigil And Nicolas Kendall
2018
Commissioned by Chamber Music America with generous funding provided by the Mellon Foundation
2016
Written for Demarre, Anthony McGill, and Michael McHale
2015
Commissioned By Chamber Music Northwest
2014
Commissioned by the Ocean Reef Chamber Music Festival
2013
Commissioned by Orchestra 2001
2013
Commissioned by the Buffalo Chamber Music Society for the Attacca Quartet
2012
Commissioned by the Chamber Music Festival of Lexington
2010
Commissioned by the Curtis Institute of Music
2010
Written For The Aspen Contemporary Ensemble
2009
Commissioned by Music From Angel Fire, Ida Kavafian, Director
2009
Commissioned By Curtis-on-tour for Benjamin Beilman and Yekwon Sunwoo
2008
Commissioned By The Curtis Institute Of Music
2007
2008 ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composers Award
