Dialogues (2019)

“Dialogues” is an exploration in musical form of the current state of dialogue in our culture. The piece begins with a bold statement from the Shakuhachi that encapsulates tradition, modernity, and passion: often conflicting ideas in our culture. Based on a pentatonic scale combined with tritones, its harmonic quality resembles both traditional Eastern music as well as the radical dissonances of modern Western art music, not excluding the idioms of Jazz. The piano responds with mirroring of the statement somewhat, and further questioning - a good listener’s role in any dialogue. However, the piano statement is certainly unique, as often our mirroring of others is still unable to encapsulate the depth of the meaning of their statement and sentiment. The dialogue becomes more impassioned and interruptive - finally sublimating to a reflective section. In this section we are presented with a deeper droning texture in the piano. Reflection, often leading to deeper understanding, means a silence on parts of both conversing parties - the piano drones on as the Shakuhachi wanders through reflective and introspective thoughts. Both instruments are removed from their dialogue. This reflection becomes its own challenge, as the instruments again build in intensity and eventually the drone of the piano overwhelms the texture and then subsides. The darkness inherent in the endless corridors of thought can be felt here. There is a silence, followed by a hopeful but pensive statement from both instruments, and a final sigh of the release from the conflicts and rewards inherent in dialogue, understanding, and the pursuit of truth between the instruments. In our modern highly-connected culture, dialogue can be challenging - however their can be great rewards to be gained from engaging in dialogue with those whom we disagree, even if in the process we discover we are wrong about some ideas, and thus, are faced with more mystery than we thought existed to begin with.