Aria for a Calmer World
Aria for a Calmer World
Performed beautifully by violinist Mitchell Newman. Three and a half minutes of serenity for our stressful world—that is the simple idea I had in mind composing Aria For A Calmer World, scored for solo violin and piano, as well as solo violin, harp, and strings.
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At performances, I can’t help but notice audiences let out a collective sigh before applauding. This small work keeps finding new homes. It was initially a concert opener for violinist Mitchell Newman to introduce my Daniel Pearl Foundation commission Stories From My Favorite Planet, itself a larger journey through world stress in articles from Wall St. journalist Daniel Pearl. Later, conductor Noreen Green commissioned a transcription for string orchestra as part of a larger work with mezzo soprano titled Canopy of Peace based on meditations by renowned rabbi and peace advocate Harold M. Schulweis. I also programmed the Aria with the Los Angeles Youth Orchestra as a prayer to end all violent ideologies, in response to the Paris terrorist attacks.