In the Language
of Meditation

Sonata for Viola & Piano

also available for Clarinet & Piano and for Alto Sax & Piano
and for soloist (Viola, Clarinet or Alto Sax) with Chamber Orchestra

Duration: ca. 14 minutes

1. Observations from a Rooftop Garden: Viola Viola Sax Saxophone Clarinet Clarinet

2. Contemplating a Mountain with Love: Viola Viola Sax Saxophone Clarinet Clarinet

3. Reflecting on a Visit with Birds: Viola Viola Sax Saxophone Clarinet Clarinet

Performance History · Download PDF Score · Sheet Music

Download Free Piano Accompaniment Tracks

The work takes on a simple, heartfelt aesthetic, reflecting Buschmann's brand of gentle kindness and her love of the natural world with singing clarinet lines and sparkling piano textures. — Andrew Friedman
Saxophone Video: Adam Pelandini
Clarinet Video: Andrew Friedman

Erik Steighner, alto saxophone, & the Octava Chamber Orchestra

In the Language of Mediation was composed in 2013 for viola & piano in memory of Ingrid Buschmann (1954 - 2013). A talented musician, Ingrid began violin studies in Seattle when she was 10 years old, and later attended the University of Washington, where she majored in viola performance and psychology, studying with Vilem Sokol and Donald McInnes. Ingrid moved to Victoria, B. C. in 1979 to join the Victoria Symphony and enjoyed playing viola there for many years.

The Spanish-language blog, Planeta Viola, written by Carlos Rodríguez Ridaura, featured a terrific commentary on In the Language of Meditation on April 24, 2016.

The arrangement for alto saxophone & piano was premiered by Adam Pelandini and Michael Refvem on January 24, 2015, at the North American Saxophone Alliance Region 1 Conference in Bellingham, Washington.

The arrangement for clarinet & piano is dedicated to Nicolai Pfeffer.

Sheet Music

Sheet music for In the Language of Meditation for viola & piano is available from Art of Sound Music.

Sheet music for In the Language of Meditation for clarinet & piano is available from J.W.Pepper and Sheet Music Plus.

Sheet music for In the Language of Meditation for alto saxophone & piano is available from J.W.Pepper and Sheet Music Plus.

Sheet music for In the Language of Meditation for soloist (viola, clarinet or alto saxophone) & chamber orchestra is available from J.W.Pepper.

Performance History - Viola

Premiere performance January 30, 2014, by Brett Deubner and Caroline Fauchet at Occidental College, Los Angeles.

January 30, 2015, by Stacey Boal and Wendy Stofer at James Bay United Church, Victoria, BC, Canada.

March 7, 2015, by Omid Assadi and Libby Kardontchik at Foothills Congregational Church, Los Altos, California.

June 10, 2016, "Observations from a Rooftop Garden," by Ángel Francisco Ramos Virgen accompanied by María Eugenia Cosio Hernández at the Galería Espacio Azúl, Guadalajara, México.

April 16, 2017, by Greg Bowen, viola, and Sasha Burdin, piano, at the University of Iowa Recital Hall, Iowa City.

Performance History - Saxophone

Premiere performance January 24, 2015, by Adam Pelandini and Michael Refvem at the North American Saxophone Alliance Conference in Bellingham, Washington.

October 16, 2015, by Patrick McCulley and Ben Milstein at Mago Hunt Recital Hall, Portland, Oregon.

Performance History - Clarinet

Premiere performance May 21, 2015, by Andrew Friedman and Karen Ganz at Kilworth Memorial Chapel, Tacoma, Washington.

June 24, 2015, by Reed & Ivory (Helen Goldsmith and Ben Cockburn) at the Headingly Enterprise & Art Centre, Leeds, United Kingdom.

June 20, 2016, by Domenico Calia at the Cascina Robbiolo Buccinasco, Milan, Italy.

April 3, 2017, by Reed & Ivory (Helen Goldsmith, clarinet, & Ben Cockburn, piano) at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle, UK.

April 5, 2017, by Reed & Ivory at Headingley HEART, Leeds, UK.

April 7, 2017, by Reed & Ivory at St Mary's Church, Sheffield, UK.

April 8, 2017, by Reed & Ivory at Engine House, Manchester, UK.

April 10, 2017, by Reed & Ivory at Seven Suite, Liverpool, UK.

April 13, 2017, by Reed & Ivory at Clements Hall, York, UK.

Performance History - Chamber Orchestra

Premiere performance June 3, 2016, by Stephen Huber Weber, viola, and the New Score Chamber Orchestra under Todd Craven at the Orlando Repertory Theatre, Florida.

July 22, 2017, by Erik Steighner, alto saxophone, and the Octava Chamber Orchestra under Ian Alvarez at the Edmonds United Methodist Church, Edmonds, Washington.