Garrett Fisher's operas are designed as rituals, using instruments like the Indian harmonium, cor anglais, viola da gamba, or taiko percussion to evoke a sparse, meditative mood and invite the audience to experience a rite of passage.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Composer Garrett Fisher's musical impulses for "The Passion of St. Thomas More" were shaped by hearing the Muezzin's call to prayer in Istanbul at age six, which instilled in him an appreciation for the power of ritual.
Instruments
The instrumental ensemble for "The Passion of St. Thomas More" includes a doumbek, a ceramic drum fundamental to Middle Eastern music, and an Indian harmonium, often used in classical Indian music.
Compositional Technique
The music for "The Passion of St. Thomas More" is based on a single melodic fragment that develops and expands throughout the work, complemented by a concise libretto.
Composition History
Garrett Fisher's opera, "The Passion of St. Thomas More," originated from his collaboration with childhood friend Anna Vinten-Johansen, a soprano who had studied Norwegian folk music, and cor anglais player Taina Karr.
Composer Biography
Garrett Fisher, the composer, lived in Istanbul, London, and Paris during his parents' academic sabbaticals, which influenced his interest in music from other cultures.
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