Probably the primary gift provided me by the Civitella Ranieri Center–beyond long periods of uninterrupted silence in a spacious studio with natural light–is the genius of its location, Italy. Working in a totally new cultural and physical environment forces the artist to re-examine by comparison, basic assumptions and truths of everyday life, thus influencing the outcome of the artistic product in certain unforeseeable and unique ways.
While in residence at Civitella, I completed the composition of JASPER DRAG, a trio for violin, clarinet and piano, revised a bass clarinet solo work and began research on a chamber orchestra piece. I am grateful to the Center’s directors and staff for their attentiveness and professionalism. I leave my residency optimistically renewed.