1. Siwashing it out once in Siuslaw Forest
2. A spring night in Shokoku-ji
3. An autumn morning in Shokoku-ji
4. December at Yase

Four Poems for Robin for Soprano and Viola (1999, rev. 2006), was commissioned by, and is dedicated to soprano Kathryn Hallor. Gary Snyder's poems, chosen by Ms. Hallor, weave together memory, lore and landscape; they are full of musings about young love lost, but they also explore how distance -- physical, temporal and emotional -- can distort our perception of an earlier time. As the poems progress, the language hardens, eventually leading to a realization that despite his efforts, he can't regain the past. These pieces were written during a point of transition in my own life that was full of regret, natsugashi, and excitement about beginning anew.

Four Poems for Robin by Gary Snyder, from BACK COUNTRY, copyright © 1968 by Gary Snyder. Used by permission of New Directions Publishing Corp.

A few notes about the text: Siuslaw Forest is located on the Oregon coast, just west of Eugene (pictures 1, 2, 3). Siwashing is camping with light equipment. Shokoku-ji is a 14th century Zen monastery in Kyoto, Japan; Yase is northeast of Kyoto. The story of Yugao is found in an ancient Japanese manuscript about Genji monogatori; she died suddenly during her affair with the Prince Genji who grieved her death. The Pleiades are a group of stars that are found in the Taurus Constellation.

Premier:

Saturday, May 1, 1999 - 3:00 p.m.
Senior Composition Recital (notes)
Beall Concert Hall, School of Music
The University of Oregon (Eugene)
Photos

Performance:

Saturday, June 12, 1999 - 12:30 p.m.
School of Music Graduation Ceremony
I. Siwashing it out once in Siuslaw Forest
II. A Spring night in Shokoku-ji
Beall Concert Hall, School of Music
The University of Oregon (Eugene)

Performance:

Wednesday, February 1, 2006 - 8:00 p.m.
BGSU Faculty Artist's Series: Faculty Composers' Forum (Program)
Bryan Recital Hall, College of Musical Arts
Bowling Green State University (BGSU) (Bowling Green)

Performance:

Monday, February 13, 2006 - 7:30 p.m.
Women Composers' Concert
Sara M. Snell Theater
Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam
I. Siwashing it out once in Siuslaw Forest
III. An autumn morning in Shokoku-ji

Performance:

Sunday, April 9, 2006 - 7:30 p.m.
Chamber Music Competition Winners' Concert
Hosmer Theater
Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam

Performance:

Friday, January 23 and Saturday, January 24, 2009 - 7:30 p.m. (poster)
A Multi-media Collaborative Evening of Music, Dance, and Digital Video
University Black Box Theater, Satterlee Hall
Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam
44 Pierrepont Ave.
Potsdam, NY

Shelly Tramposh, viola, and Jill Pearon, soprano present works by Crane composer Paul Siskind, Andrea Reinkemeyer, Jean Berger, Ivan Fedele, and Georges Boeuf. But wait - there's more! Each piece will be interpreted by a different visual artist - Mark Huff, Doyle Dean, Ben Huff, and Clark Graham present digital video, and Robin Collen presents choreography. Don't miss this evening of lost love, night creatures, and insanity! January 23 and 24 at 7:30 in the University Black Box Theater, SUNY Potsdam. No tickets required - admission is free.

Performance:

Thursday, June 4, 2009 - 4:30 p.m.
Final Examination (Program)
Campus Arc 1
Conservatoire de Musique Neuchâtelois
Neuchatel, FRANCE

Performance:

Thursday, April 15, 2010 - 5:30 p.m.
Master's Recital Featuring Women Composers
Rock Hall Auditorium
Boyer College of Music and Dance
Temple University
1715 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA