My dear mother went to hear a performance of Wagner’s Parsifal at the Metropolitan Opera. It being the most lethargic of operas, my mother was so transfixed by its 6-hour long power that, upon exiting the opera house, she tripped. For the first time in her life, my mom was in crutches, crying out from pain and thinking that life was over. I wanted to write a piece to comfort her as she healed.

A week later, she was feeling much better, running around Manhattan with one crutch, often raising it in the air to hail a cab or a bus. The comedy of it all I hoped to capture with the second, faster section of the piece.

Ljova and the Kontraband — viola (or famiola), accordion, bass, percussion.
Custom arrangements available on request.

July 6, 2007 – Philadelphia Museum of Art

Ljova, viola; Patrick Farrell, accordion; Mike Savino, bass; Mathias Kunzli, percussion

performed frequently with Ljova and the Kontraband as part of their set.

Recorded on Ljova and the Kontraband’s debut CD, “Mnemosyne” [album details]