Drifting Light

“Drifting Light” was composed in response to “Bending Light,” an exhibition at the Bermuda National Gallery by surf photographer Seth de Roulet. The images reflect Roulet’s background as a surfer and evoke characteristics of waves, the ocean, landscapes, and the natural world. While not all of the images consist of wave crests, I feel that they allude to water and surfing in some way. I was also interested in examining his photographs that aren’t of waves.

Additionally, I have a strong synesthetic association between color and sound. All of the photographs are in black and white, and while writing the work, I envisioned colors in his photographs and “added” them, painting them with sound.

There are three instruments, one for each of the three primary colors that the human eye can see. They blend together to add color to a black and white canvas.

Composed For the Bermuda Piano Trio, commissioned by the Bermuda National Gallery. Thank you so much for the generous sponsorship to bring this project to life.

Performed at the Bermuda National Gallery, May 15, 2025