dances and prayers in isolation ​for various instrumentations (15')

dances and prayers in isolation is a set of short pieces written for and performed remotely from quarantine by friends and colleagues during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Each miniature is scored for a different solo or duo instrumentation, and the work is structured with fast, rhythmic movements alternating with somber, reflective ones. 

i. dance no. 1 for piccolo and xylophone, "fidget" (2')
          written for Megan Torti and Joe Desotelle
ii. prayer no. 1 for solo piano, "flow" (2')
           written for Wesley Ducote 
iii. dance no. 2 for solo clarinet "stuck inside?" (2')
           written for Justin Best
iv. prayer no. 2 for solo guitar, "numbness" (1')
         written for Bokyung Byun as part of Sounding Board Project's Catharsis 2020 Initiative
v. dance no. 3 for solo violin, "vermutin" (2') 
          written for Connor Chaikowsky, violin as part of his La Bœuf sur la Toit Commissioning Project
vi. prayer no. 3 for two violins, "mirrors" (3')
           written for Adam Woodward and Giancarlo Latta

Paul Novak · dances and prayers in isolation (2020) for various instrumentations

selected performances
Feb. 2022 — “vermutin”: Connor Chaikowsky, La Bouef in Concert, Moody Center, Houston, TX
Jan. 2022 — “vermutin”: Sarah Mason, Masters Recital, Shepherd School of Music, Houston, TX
Jul. 2021 — “stuck inside?”: Karl Busch, reNEW Music Month of New Music, Reno, NV
Jun. 2021 — “flow”: Jeff DePaoli, reNEW Music, reNEW’s Musical Sculpture Garden, Reno, NV
Feb. 2021 — “vermutin”: Connor Chaikowsky, La Bouef in Concert (livestream)
​Jul. 2020 — “numbness”: Bokyung Byun, Sounding Board Catharsis Project