PROGRAM NOTES

Cloak was written in response to Bach’s towering solo string works, particularly the Sonatas and Partitas for violin. I have always been enamored with the voice leading in these pieces. Each note is essential—twisting, reorienting, and guiding the ear through the harmony. Cloak seeks to conjure this same sinuous detail, channeled instead through the rich tone of the viola. As I was developing the music, I began to envision each twist and reorientation as the ripples of a cloak, billowing in the wind.

Composition Details

Completed in 2020 and premiered digitally by Katarzyna Bryla-Weiss in June 2020. The piece was commissioned by the Orchestra of St. Luke’s as part of their Bach at Home Series.

Instrumentation

Viola

Duration

~3 minutes