Bear’s Dance for violoncello, piano and percussion

(2005) 7'

Commissioned by Network for New Music

Program note

Two personal experiences were the departure point for Bear’s Dance. The first was a wonderful encounter with a black bear in the woods of New Hampshire and the second, shortly thereafter, was the discovery of Inuit dancing bear sculptures.

In my bear encounter I was awed by the bear’s impressive weight, strength, gentleness and speed, while in the second I was fascinated by the Inuit concept of a bear dancing itself to enlightenment and their depictions of bears in various animated poses, from the graceful to the rapturous. Bear’s Dance is one of ten works commissioned by Network for New Music to celebrate its twentieth anniversary season in 2005. I am very grateful to Linda Reichert, artistic director, for including this work in the celebration. Materials presently unavailable.