Inside Voices

Program Note:

Inside Voices is inspired by the playful call-and-response “attention grabbers” that teachers use to engage young children—phrases like “One, two, three, eyes on me / One, two, eyes on you,” or, “If you can hear my voice, clap once” (CLAP) “If you can hear my voice, clap twice” (CLAP, CLAP). It also draws from the strange and joyful sounds children make to express themselves, capturing their creativity and energy.

This piece is personal. I have spent my entire adult life working as a teacher, and many of the women in my life have also devoted themselves to the care and education of children. This work is a tribute to the often undervalued, generational labor of childcare and teaching, which is overwhelmingly shouldered by women. Childcare and education is the foundation of every generation, and so this piece is a tribute to their strength and creativity.

Many thanks to the Masso Quartet for commissioning and premiering this piece, and for lending their voices to bring it to life.