i wana cry with u (2014)
written for
Cor Flammae
with text by
Steve Roggenbuck
i wana cry with u
but we cant
because if we were together we
wouldn't be sad
Initially, I interpreted the poem through the lens of queer love. While that worked well enough, it soon became clear that the scope of this poem's meaning couldn't be limited by one narrative. I opted for a format that allows each singer to discover their own interpretation as part of singing the piece.
A Spirit Alive in a Ready Body (2013)
for Mezzo-Soprano and Pianist
text by Ray Hsu
commissioned by Lynne McMurtry and Alison d'Amato
For the fourth year of Art Song Lab, Ray and I have stepped back from participation in order to focus on organization. However, a summer celebration of song would be incomplete without a new instalment from our unique collaboration.
One of the focuses in our partnership has been to explore the concept of Interview. This is a topic we first delved into with Compassion & Sacrifice, and continued to some extent in Art Song Lib. We began this piece by interviewing Lynne, and imagining how her responses change with context and the identity of the interviewer. As with much of my vocal writing, I've tried to bring out as many 'readings' of the poem as possible within the context of the performance.
This piece has a very special place in my heart because it involves all three of the Art Song Lab co-directors: Ray, Alison, and myself. Even though the piece isn't an official part of ASL 2013, it stands as a testament to the community of art song we've strived to create and have seen flourish in the last few years.
Art Song Lib (2012)
for Singer, Pianist, and Scribe
text by Ray Hsu
Written for and performed by Phoebe MacRae and Rachel Iwaasa as part of VISI Art Song Lab 2012.
I have collaborated with Ray Hsu on a number of projects, including the founding of Art Song Lab, an innovative program that teams composers with poets as part of the Vancouver International Song Institute's SONGFIRE festival in partnership with the Canadian Music Centre.
For those of you who don't know our work, it is an understatement to say that we skirt the status quo... We started this project in a café, Ray asking, 'what can we do that would be awesome?' Knowing that we were writing for soprano Phoebe MacRae (a goddess of musical comedy) and pianist Rachel Iwaasa (who can rise to any challenge), our answer was to turn the entire experience of a madlib into an art song. Integrating audience suggestions into the song, no two performances will be the same!
Diabetes: Question Time (2011)
chamber opera for six voices and piano
Commissioned by The University of Manitoba’s Contemporary Opera Lab, under the direction of Mel Braun, this 20-minute chamber opera explores internal conflicts and concerns relating to type-one diabetes.
Following the success of the COL commission, Diagnosis: Diabetes will be developed into a one-act opera which will serve as Michael’s doctoral thesis. More information about that project can be found here.
Click here for a PDF of the Score.
More Than Containers (2010)
for Baritone and Piano
A short song for baritone, setting a poem by Ray Hsu as a conversational dialogue between piano and voice. This song was premiered by baritone, Michael Broder and pianist, Laura Lowen at the Vancouver International Song Institute as part of the inaugural Art-Song Lab.
Click here for a PDF of the Score.
Songs of Ray (2010)
It's Cold in here
In the cliff-light
for SATB Chamber Choir
text: Ray Hsu
This set of two songs, uses texts by Vancouver poet, Ray Hsu. Commissioned by Charissa Bagan and Jake Funk for The UBC Chamber Choir.
Premiered by the UBC Chamber Choir Spring Concert, 2010.