Daughter of the Stars (2024)
Premiered:
the 29th International Conference on Auditory Display
EMPAC, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY
26 June 2024

also performed:
22 March 2025: SEAMUS, Purdue U
19 Oct 2024: Technosonics Festival, Charlottesville
11 Oct 2024: SCGMC Conference, Charlottesville

Program notes / conference proceedings: https://hdl.handle.net/1853/76316

Notes:
“Daughter of the Stars” draws from the Native American creation myth of the same name, which tells the tale of how the Shenandoah mountains came to be. According to this story, a Great Spirit gathered the stars above what was considered the most beautiful place on earth: a serene silver lake bordered by majestic blue mountains. The stars cherished this spot, singing joyous songs to celebrate its beauty. However, tragedy struck when a devastating earthquake split the lake’s edge, draining its waters into the ocean. In search of a new haven, the stars journeyed far and wide until they stumbled upon a breathtaking valley, cradled by towering blue mountains and traversed by a winding river. To their surprise, they realized that this valley was the former bed of their beloved lake, and the mountains remained unchanged. Thus, they named their newfound home “Shenandoah,” meaning “Daughter of the Stars.”

When I first moved to Charlottesville, VA two years back I was left with mixed feelings. Having grown up surrounded by the beauty of the Adirondack mountains along the shores of Lake Champlain, the move to Charlottesville, an unfamiliar landlocked city, felt foreign. However, when I saw the Blue Ridge mountains for the first time, a sense of familiarity and connection developed; it felt as though I had discovered a new home.