Composer's Note

After a bit of time in the US, I’ve returned to my home country of the Philippines. I’d emigrated from here in hopes of furthering my career, wound up in New York City, then returned when the pandemic hit. A big part of me remains in New York, and I’m constantly wondering what might bring me back.

Exile/Home was commissioned by Melisa Tien for SWELL, a collection of music-theater works by immigrants and children of immigrants. I wrote the text as well as the music, which I completed in my hometown in the Philippines in January 2021.

Instrumentation

Baritone, violin, cello, piano

Duration

5 minutes

First Performance

17 March 2021, HERE (online)
Tian Hui Ng, music director; Ricardo Rivera, baritone