Powehi by Anna Rubin

From astrophysics to beehives, migrant justice to praying robots, Anna Rubin’s MusicStories cover a wide territory. Powehi – an expansive collection of works that interweave music, storytelling, and electronic soundscapes – showcases her deep engagement with environmental and political themes, as well as her fascination with the human voice—both spoken and sung.

The titular composition, Powehi (the Hawaiian term for black hole) takes listeners on a sonic journey through the enigmatic forces of black holes, gravity, and dark matter. Performed by Pamela Fields (actor) and pianists Sandrine Erdely-Sayo and Cynthia Raim, the piece immerses audiences in a rich universe created by the resonance of two pianos and evocative narration.

Throughout the double album, Rubin’s works celebrate the beauty and fragility of nature, notably in a trio of pieces dedicated to bees: Everything Goes Bee, For the Love of Bees, and The Beekeepers. These compositions explore the intricate relationships between bees and humans, employing musical metaphors that range from swirling clusters of notes to jazz-infused harmonies.

Other pieces on the album delve into themes of migration, identity, and historical connections. Karina’s Journey tells the poignant story of a young girl’s treacherous migration across the Sonoran Desert to the U.S. border, blending recorded narration with ambient textures. Automaton Monk draws inspiration from Rebecca Morgan Frank’s poetry, offering a wry reflection on the history of robotics, while A Storm Event sets artist Yen Ha’s multilingual poem to an atmospheric soundscape that mirrors the unpredictability of nature.

With performances by renowned musicians and collaborators this collection highlights Rubin’s masterful ability to merge acoustic and electronic elements into emotionally charged, lyrical compositions. Balancing storytelling and music with equal weight, these MusicStories touch the heart of many of our most timely themes.

Anna Rubin’s music is propelled by her love of the speaking and singing voice as well as environmental and political issues. She has composed for a variety of musical genres including chamber, choral, wind and orchestral ensembles as well as electronic music for stage, video and dance. Composing for baroque and Korean instruments has also been one of her interests. Recent commissions include works for the Piano on the Rocks Festival, Sedona. Whether she is composing for acoustic instruments or for electronic and computer-generated media, her work celebrates the varied strands of her musical DNA, ranging from the Jewish cantorial legacy to Renaissance, classical and experimental traditions.

Anna Rubin’s music is propelled by her love of the speaking and singing voice as well as environmental and political issues. She has composed in a variety of musical genres including chamber, choral, wind and orchestral ensembles as well as electronic music for stage, video and dance. Composing for Baroque and Korean instruments has also been one of her interests.