Voices

(Constantine P. Cavafy, translated by Daniel Mendelsohn)

Imagined voices, and beloved, too,
of those who died, or of those who are
lost unto us like the dead.

Sometimes in our dreams they speak to us;
sometimes in its thought the mind will hear them.

And with their sound for a moment there return
sounds from the first poetry of our life—
like music, in the night, far off, that fades away.

Voices

for Hichiriki (筚篥) and Electronics, 2016

Inspired by a poem by Constantine P. Cavafy (see below),

Dedicated to Thomas Piercy, who gave the premiere, and to all those who fly on planes.

extended version, performed by Thomas Piercy at Soft Series, October 26, 2018, NYC

world premiere version, performed by Thomas Piercy at Tokyo to New York series, November 12, 2016, 8:00pm, NYC