Unexpressed (2026)
Unexpressed was commissioned by the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) and Cincinnati Song Initiative for their Composer Mentoring Program, with generous support from Lori Laitman. A sincere thank you to Lori Laitman for being my mentor, and creating a connection with a composer icon that I never thought I'd have.
Unexpressed was a simple inspiration. My wife, Madeleine, came home from an audition (as many of us musicians and artists do), and said - "I've had a revelation. I need to stop singing for these judges and sing for me."
With a larger cycle in mind, I immediately searched for prose describing that inner dialogue - wanting to tell your story as an artist, but feeling stuck or trapped in doing so.
Paul Laurence Dunbar published his Lyrics of Lowly Life in 1896, and in this particular poem, "Unexpressed", he describes exactly that. The thought that strives for plentitude and outward expression, only to be met with the bitter pain of silence.
The song took shape from one motive to show that feeling of entrapment - quite literally spelling out the word T-H-O-U-G-H-T (using the note names Ab, D, Gb, Db, F, D, Ab).
Premiered by
Natasha Naik - mezzo soprano
Mary Elizabeth Tan - piano.
