Flames Nurtured the Rose

Flames Nurtured the Rose is a piece that reflects on bittersweet experiences. The sun is a constantly burning sphere of flames, yet it nurtures everything on earth. After a forest fire, the soil is very fertile. Musically, this idea of bittersweetness is explored by juxtaposing harsh dissonances beneath soaring lyrical melodies. The dissonances are created both harmonically and rhythmically with indeterminacy of pitch bends and clustered pizzicato.

Flames Nurtured the Rose also integrates musical practices from numerous cultures into a Western classical setting. My music always seeks to build bridges between different communities, through sound. The piece includes rhythmic elements from Ghanaian drumming, Persian classical music, and Indian classical tala; as well as melodic elements found Persian classical music and blues and gospel music of the United States. The most prominent elements of Persian classical music are Dastgâh-e Mâhur with Gushe Goshâyesh and Gushe Feyli. The Ghanaian Ewe bell pattern Atsia Agbekor can be found in the 9/4 sections of the piece. Measure 161 through the downbeat of measure 225 uses a repeated lahara cycle. When the duet between the clarinet and goblet drum percussion enters at m171, they both begin a Dumdhar Chakradhar Tihai that ends on beat one of measure 225.