for SA (with divisions) and hand-claps
Heart of Earth sets excerpts of poetry by Laura Purdie Salas that are rich in vivid descriptions of the natural world. Rajasekar was attracted to these texts by the way in which they relate to her home state of Minnesota, as well as places all around the world. The simple melodic lines are embellished with cross-rhythms and vocal scoops. The hand-clapping patterns are intended to be reminiscent of childhood, and a video guide to these, filmed by the composer, is available on the companion website www.oup.com/HeartofEarth. This piece was commissioned and premiered by the Royal Northern College of Music in 2023.
for SA (with divisions) and hand-claps
Heart of Earth sets excerpts of poetry by Laura Purdie Salas that are rich in vivid descriptions of the natural world. The simple melodic lines are embellished with cross-rhythms, vocal scoops, and hand-claps.
Named by The Guardian as a composer 'who will enrich your life', Shruthi Rajasekar's compositions explore the themes of identity, community, and joy. Rajasekar draws from her dual background in the Carnatic (South Indian classical) and Western classical musical traditions to create intersectional music. She was awarded the Global Women in Music Award from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and Foundation Adkins Chiti: Donne in Musica. Rajasekar was a 2023 Jerome Hill Artist Fellow Rajasekar and has been an artist-in-residence at the Tusen Takk Foundation, Britten Pears Arts, and the Anderson Center. She was a Marshall Scholar in the UK, where she pursued postgraduate studies in composition and ethnomusicology. A graduate of Princeton University, Rajasekar lives in Minnesota and serves on the board of new music chamber ensemble Zeitgeist.
