Variations on a Quiet Song
Variations on a Quiet Song for harp and small orchestra is based on the ancient Welsh air "Ar Hyd y Nos", best known in English as "All Through the Night". It was commissioned by the CBC Vancouver Orchestra for harpist Rita Costanzi.
To the harp is attributed the power to heal (David and Solomon) and enchant (Orpheus and the Furies). The harp has a central place in my work. I write for it frequently and with pleasure. It is a special pleasure to write for Rita Costanzi, an artist of depth and sensitivity who understands her instrument's capacity for magic.