'My Other Leashed Volkgeist': A work for wind instruments and percussion

Completing the piece My Other Leashed Volkgeist signifies the end of a phase in my musical life. This work is a reflection of my artistic development thus far, and I seek to use this writing opportunity to present fundamental values that have inspired and influenced my compositional undertakings. This essay, written in a mixture of autobiographical, philosophical, and technical tones, is intended to serve as a musicological and cultural companion to my recent music (2005 onwards) and thoughts. By interweaving quotations from myself and the Tao Te Ching, I refer to my thesis piece My Other Leashed Volkgeist in this paper to show how my inspirations and influences transform into sonic artistry.1;1Quotations from myself are taken from A Note About My Music in the program booklet for the recital Nuances Elevated on February 17, 2009. The Tao Te Ching, written around the 6th century B.C. by the sage Laozi, who is regarded as the founder of Taoist philosophy, provides the basis for the philosophical school of Taoism, which is an important pillar of Chinese thought.