Sŭnāō

for SSAA and piano
This set of three captivating pieces is designed to introduce choirs to the Hindi language. 'Sŭnāō' translates as 'have me listen', but is closer in meaning to 'tell me' or 'sing for me'. The first song, 'Āō', invites us to share our musical traditions, exploring changing open vowels and featuring a two-part canon. 'Khaṭṭar paṭṭar' uses a distinctive style of onomatopoeia to describe how we sometimes let our thoughts run out of control. Opening with a whispered section, it has a high rhythmic energy and continual sense of drive. By contrast, the gently flowing 'Behtā jā' encourages us not to be too hard on ourselves, contrasting dark and light within a soft dynamic palette. With a piano part that is both characterful and supportive, each piece teaches linguistic concepts of Hindi and musical concepts of Hindustani music, while reminding us to approach new ideas from a place of curiosity rather than of judgement.