K i n d W i l d n e s s

Grounded in distinctly American ways of express ideas through rhythm, such as slam poetry, gospel, protest chants, jazz, and hip-hop, Kind Wildness is a protest piece that explores the increasing divide since the 2016 presidential election. The phrase kind wildness comes from slam poet Anis Mojgani’s poem “I’m Forgetting This Poem Before I Write It” from Songs From Under the River. Throughout the piece, the flute is processed with delay, for counterpoint; chorus, to emulate a choir; and bit crusher, for a layer of grime. Additionally, there are references to protest chants including “This is what democracy looks like!”, “Black lives matter!”, “Education not deportation!”, and “Pussy grabs back!”; the Chilean song by Sergio Ortega and Quilapayún,  ¡El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido! or The People United Will Never Be Defeated!; and the drum groove from “Check the Rhime” by A Tribe Called Quest.