Pianist in Residence and the Collaborative Commissioning of a New Work
As our inaugural Pianist in Residence, Daniel Inamorato has played a vital role in the Festival for Creative Pianists this year—contributing to our in-person festival, engaging actively in our online community, and performing works from the Abundant Silence catalog.
The final component of his residency is the collaborative commissioning of a new work from an Abundant Silence composer, and we’re thrilled that Daniel is working with the exceptionally talented Che Buford.
We asked Che to tell us about the work they are creating, titled Almonds.
Che Buford
che ali (a.k.a, Che Buford) is an experimental interdisciplinary artist based in new york city. che primarily performs and creates music as a violinist and composer while also integrating objects, voice, movement, and poetry. their practice often deals with themes around memory, place, the quotidian, humaness through a somatic lens, while in dialogue with poetic possibility and conceptual inquiry. their work is deeply interested in the exposure of timbral details, resonance, introspection, interiority, and starkness, realized through improvisational performance, acoustic and electroacoustic sound worlds.
In their words:
“The piece I am writing for Daniel explores the interaction of mundane, everyday objects—glorifying them and forming ritual around them. Currently, the work centers on the concept of almonds as eyes. I became particularly interested in the Hebrew word for almond, shaked, which means “to be watchful.” This discovery emerged while I was brainstorming for the piece, staring at a jar of almonds on my table.
Here is a poem I wrote, which may be used as text:
Almonds
Like eyes
Contained in this jar
Multiplied
Cutting through, walking through, seeing through
Surrounding
Me?The video I’ve included documents me building visuals and sound elements that will inspire sonic events—or perhaps become objects themselves—as well as constructing an altar that can potentially be used in the performance. I am interested in the performance as a malleable ritual experience, one that incorporates Daniel’s Butoh practice and evolves in real time.”
We cannot wait to see the piece come to life and to experience the results of their collaboration!
We are proud to support the creation of new work and to foster meaningful connections between composers, performers, and audiences. If you would like to join us in this effort, please consider contributing to our fundraiser. Every gift, large or small, directly supports the artists and helps us continue this vital work.
Thank you for being part of our community—your support makes this work possible!