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, piccolo, and Joe Desotelle, xylophone
ii. prayer no. 1 for solo piano, "flow" (2')
           written for Wesley Ducote, piano 
iii. dance no. 2 for solo clarinet "stuck inside?" (2')
           written for Justin Best, clarinet
iv. prayer no. 2 for solo guitar, "numbness" (1')
         written for Bokyung Byun, guitar 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