too bright to see (2020) for string quartet

Duration 8.5 minutes

First Performance 6 November 2020 (recorded in Sprague Hall, Yale University for virtual premiere);

Performed by the Omer Quartet: Mason Yu & Erica Tursi, violins; Jinsun Hong, viola; and Alex Cox, cello.

Program Note I began “too bright to see” at a time when the world was very loud. In searching for a way to reflect the energy around me (or within me), my musical ideas came out jumbled and unhinged — leading me to believe that I, myself, am unhinged. I was deeply touched by the text in a poem by the American poet Linda Gregg as I, too, felt like things were “too bright to see” (see photo of poem on the left). In thinking about the way Linda characterizes herself as “I am moon to what I am doing and what I was,” I realized that I was trying to reflect and refract too much noise. My piece does not trace the poem itself, but rather unfolds the small and sparing ideas that followed after I was able to quiet my mind and accept the things that are simply too bright to see.