At home with your death

At Home With Your Death is a series of soundscape remembrances of people who have died as described to me by the people who loved them. The soundscapes can be thought of as an abstract essence, a perfume or trace, of the person who died, but really about the relationship between the two.

 In addition to 8 individual sound scores about 7 individual relationships, a Collective Unconscious score is an ever-evolving piece that includes an element of each subject’s individual score. Over time, the Collective Unconscious could grow to include elements of many, many subjects.

Though each story is unique, the feelings are universal. This project is intended as a balm for the people I work with, perform for, and for my own sense of mortality.

A sampling of scores follows, or on the EP here.

Hurling Each Other Through Space is based on an interview with Kit about his wife Deborah, who died of cancer. Three years past Deborah’s death, Kit was beautifully observant and articulate about his loss and the process of grieving in general. All the words you hear in this piece are his. This piece is in the key of wine glass, in honor of Deborah’s artistry as a glassmaker. You will also hear the sounds of Saturn as recorded by NASA, a reference to the song title, which in turn is Kit’s own re-interpretation of a John Hiatt song lyric “You hurled us into space.”

A Good Day to Live is about Jen, as told to me by her friend and collaborator Meshi. Jen was a dancer, a doula, a redhead. Grounded and also deeply in the flow. Her unexpected death from a brain aneurysm served as a catalyst for Meshi. Don’t miss the last two minutes of this piece, especially in contrast to the earlier section.

Post Mortem is about Arla’s Dad, as told to me by Arla. Arla’s Dad was beloved by his family and community, but was also abusive to Arla and her siblings. Arla says that it is easier to love her Dad in death than in life. This piece is in two sections, expressing both that tension and release.

Consciousness Score (all the stories and people floating together in sound)