Where the Heart is Pure

Where the Heart Is Pure was completed on December 8, 1993, and is based on three poems by the distinguished Northwest poet, Robert Sund (1929-2001). The score is dedicated to Robert, who was a dear friend for over 25 years. It depicts a jounrey out to see him at the mouth of the Skagit River, in Washington State, where for many years he lived in a wonderfully converted net shack over the water next to Bald Island. Where the Heart Is Pure was premiered by Stephanie Friendman, mezzo-soprano, Laurent Pillot, conductor, and the principal players of the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra on June 25, 1995. It was then recorded for a CD devoted to my music on June 29th, and is the title composition of that recording. New Albion Records was the producer, with the assistance of a generous grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The international release date was September 1, 1996. There are now plans to record the duo version.