Program Note:

Judaism is one of the defining elements of my life not only because it is my heritage, but because I am the descendant of a Holocaust survivor. My grandfather, who survived the death camps, went on to build a loving family and successful fur processing business in Montreal, Canada after World War II. I owe my existence to my grandfather's resilience, and his example is a guiding light to me as a musician and human being. Though he died when I was very young, he taught me to never forget who you are, to never take anything for granted, and to never give up. But also to never stop being caring, just, and kind.

When I began to learn about the events of October 7, 2023, I was, like many others, devastated. Though the twenty-first century has not been short of turbulence, I never imagined such unspeakable, macabre horror on such a scale towards Jews happening in the present day. The steady normalization of anti-Semitism since October 7 has been just as disturbing, and has also affected my own personal life in ways I never thought I would see, let alone so regularly. For the first time in my life, I have wondered if there are parallels to my experiences with what my grandfather may have seen as a young man.

An element of the contemporary anti-Semitism which bothers me in particular is the refusal to let Jews speak for themselves. The refusal to let Jews define themselves and explain their own history and identity, and to put words in our mouths. I decided that the most effective thing I could do as a composer in response to October 7 was to speak for myself as a Jew through my music, and to not be intimidated, even if it might feel easier to keep my head down. To articulate and be proud of my Jewish values through my work, even if not everyone may listen.

This is the origin of From Genesis. My composition draws inspiration from the opening of the Bible, with its mysterious and beautiful symbolism, as well as the legacy of Abraham. It is a musical expression of myself getting back into touch with my roots. It is also a call to remind people more broadly of the roots they share, so that we may build something better in this world as brothers and sisters, no matter how tempting it is to do otherwise.

The text I wrote for the music is found below:

In dark and void,
God made light.

In God's own image,
man was made.

In God's own image,
God made.

Avraham, Avraham,
first, and bringer of nations
as many as stars.

Remember, remember,
from dust you are,
and dust you shall be.

Performances:

• Sophie Thompson, Madelin Morales, Yinghui He, John Arlievsky, and William Shi, Linde Center Studio E, Lenox, Massachusetts, June 29, 2024.