UC Santa Barbara

Bridge II for flute, nay and two dancers is an attempt to bridge between two different worlds. It aims to create a space of “in between,” by initiating a conversation where there was no bridge. In composition, the nay from Middle Eastern music and the flute from the Western music meet each other despite the difference of tuning, timbre, and tradition that each instrument has. In choreography, two women dancers deliver the narrative of building a supportive relationship each other in the struggles of their lives. The collaboration between the composer and dancers, as well as the relationship between Bridge II and other interdisciplinary artworks performed at the concerts (Composition+Choroegraphy and Women, Arts, Life, August 10-11, 2019) also strengthens the identity of the piece, “building a bridge.” Chapter One examines the inspiration that brought Bridge II to life and its influences in the instrumentation of the piece. Chapter Two traces the Western music tradition found in the flute part and the Arab music tradition in the nay part. Chapter Three investigates the cross-cultural traditions and innovations in each part, the nay part adopting the flute’s idiomatic playing techniques, and the flute part featuring the maqam-influenced materials. Chapter Four is the form analysis of the composition, demonstrating the journey of building a bridge between the two instruments until they create a balanced dialogue. Chapter Five explores how the identity of Bridge II is extended outside of the music: the collaborative process of dancemaking between the dancers and composer, the structure of music and dance, and the relationship with other programs of the concerts where Bridge II was performed.