The final movement shows the king struggling with death, a lonely and bitter man whose wife and sons have warred against him in open rebellion. Her compositions have received performances throughout the United States and Europe, including the Bergen International Festival in Norway, the Eighth International Congress onWomen in Music in Spain, the Goodwill Arts Festival in the United States, and by the Hilliard Ensemble in Germany and England. Ms. Thomas has studied and participated in Master Classes and Symposia with Arvo P rt, Jacob Druckman, Sir David Willcocks, The Hillard Ensemble, Leon Kirchner, William Kraft, Ned Rorem, Wiliam Bergsma, Helmuth Rilling, Tonu Kaljuste, and Gregg Smith. She is currently Performance Liaison to the International Alliance for Women in Music, and has served on the faculties of Pacific Lutheran University, The Evergreen State College, and Cornish College. Are Silent for solo trombone is based on listening deeply to all hearable sounds.
None are silent.
Listen for their voices. Sound what you hear. I am writing a book about lullabies and other music in the woman's cultural domain. From culture to culture certain elements seem common among songs of lulling. The western notion of soothing by slow pulse and limited range of pitches is not apparent in this song from Yalata among the Pitjantjara group.