This piece is inspired by the process through which proteins in our cells "fold" into their specific molecular structures. Proteins are molecules that play a role in every function we associate with life (growth, reproduction, metabolism, etc.) and, just like cars and other macroscopic machines, they require a specific molecular structure to perform their function.  The "dance" in this piece depicts the process by which a protein, made up a chain of amino acid building blocks that are chemically strung together, twists and swirls around until it finds its correct structure. In the cell, this "dance" of protein folding is coupled to "rhythm" of another process--protein synthesis, whereby a protein is built one amino acid at a time by a machine called the ribosome. Just as tempo is linked to dance in real life, the "dance" of protein folding is tightly coupled to the rhythm with which amino acids are added to a protein as it's first being made, and changes to this tempo can ultimately affect the structure a protein adopts and its function. It is crucial that scientists study how proteins fold up correctly in the cell since abnormal protein folding is linked to diseases such as Alzheimer's.

The Dance of the Nascent Chain

for unaccompanied SATB chorus

I. There Will Come Soft Rains

There will come soft rains and the smell of the ground, 
And swallows circling with their shimmering sound;

And frogs in the pools singing at night, 
And wild plum-trees in tremulous white;

Robins will wear their feathery fire, 
Whistling their whims on a low fence-wire;

And not one will know of the war, not one 
Will care at last when it is done.

Not one would mind, neither bird nor tree 
If mankind perished utterly;

And spring herself, when she woke at dawn, 
Would scarcely know that we were gone.

II. June Night

Oh Earth, you are too dear tonight, 
How can I sleep while all around 
Floats rainy fragrance and the far 
Deep voice of the ocean that talks to the ground?

Oh Earth, you gave me all I have,
I love you, I love you, -- oh what have I 
That I can give you in return --
Except my body after I die?

Teasdale Songs (2016): for SATB chorus

Taipei Chamber Singers, conductor: Yun-Hung CHEN
〈原聲、源音、緣響〉Sounds of Autochthon (Natives) 
 “Sound of Autochthon” was commissioned by the world renowned Taipei Chamber Singers, who are specialized in singing contemporary repertoires.  The piece contains three movements for six vocal parts (3 female and 3 male), and is inspired by the rich Taiwanese aboriginal music, languages, rhythms, special patterns and layouts from various tribes, such as Bunun, Amis, Yami/Tao, Paiwan, Rukai, Seediq, Tsou, Truku, Atayal, etc.  The majority of piece uses non-meaningful syllables that frequently are appeared in aboriginal music worldwide, as well as texts from Taiwanese aboriginal children’s songs and the some gestures such as shouting, vocalizing, etc.  Besides singing, the singers also doubling with some simple percussion instruments, such as singing bowl (Chinese Chin), pairs of hand cymbals, small (jingle) bells and percussive foot stomp that imitates Taiwanese aboriginal dances.   
樂曲簡介(曲解):
〈原聲、源音、緣響〉為在演唱當代曲目方面素負盛名的台北室內合唱團之委託創作，這首三個樂章的作品以六聲部混聲合唱團兼打撃的方式演出，注入台灣多元化的原住民音樂傳統及音樂元素。〈原聲、源音、緣響〉結合臺灣各種原住民的音樂(如布農族、阿美族、排灣族、魯凱族、雅美(達悟)族、賽德克族、泰雅族、鄒族、排灣族、太魯閣族等等)，透過不同的織度與運用，創造出傳統元素的嶄新面向。歌詞除了使用部分臺灣原住民語言，也融合了單一音節的片段、自然聲響及「聲詞」、「襯詞」等音節的本質，再加入打擊等輔助

The Dance of the Nascent Chain

Amir Bitran

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