Refuge was recorded at Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City by the Abramyan String Quartet, who are all members of the Utah Symphony. They can be emailed at eliaspattn@gmail.com.
Refuge is a string quartet in four movements based on Terry Tempest Williams’ readings from her book of the same name. It was composed by Phillip Bimstein for the Abramyan String Quartet, funded by a Meet The Composer "New Residencies" grant.
Excerpts from Refuge (the string quartet):
I. Desert
If the desert is holy,
it is because it is a forgotten place
that allows us to remember the sacred
II. Silence
Silence is the strength of our interior life
If we will fill our lives with silence
Then we will live in hope
III. Rabbits
Consider the rabbits – how gently they walk on the earth
We remember them – we can walk gently also
IV. Birds
I pray to the birds
because they remind me of what I love
rather than what I fear
and at the end of my prayers
they teach me
how to listen
- Terry Tempest Williams
• For info on Terry Tempest Williams, please CLICK HERE • To go to Phillip Bimstein’s MySpace, please CLICK HERE