Performance of Hell’s Kitchen by the Brightwork Ensemble, on a program entitled ‘Crumbs in Hell’s Kitchen.”

Performance of Hell’s Kitchen by the Brightwork Ensemble, on a program entitled ‘Falling.”

Performance of Hell’s Kitchen by the Brightwork Ensemble, on a program entitled ‘Falling.”

Performance of Hell’s Kitchen by the Brightwork Ensemble, on a program entitled ‘Falling.”

Performance of Hell’s Kitchen by the Brightwork Ensemble, on a program entitled ‘Falling.”

Hell's Kitchen performed by the Atlantic Music Festival Contemporary Ensemble conducted by Robert Paterson.

In Hell’s Kitchen, I use the imaginary sounds of a fast-paced restaurant kitchen in hell as a point of departure, complete with loud, grinding effects produced by musical instruments and the sounds of kitchen tools and appliances. The percussionist plays a central role, using a metal grater like a güiro (an effect suggested to me by my son Dylan while walking down 9th Avenue) and uses wooden spoons like drumsticks on pots and pans, while other players are called upon to use kitchen gadgets and appliances for percussive effect. The entire work is meant to give the feeling of being in the middle of a kitchen in hell.

World Premiere of Hell's Kitchen for chamber sextet, commissioned by the Utah Arts Festival as the result of winning the 2014 Utah Arts Festival Chamber Ensemble Composer Commission Competition.

On the Verge Concert Series at Georgia Southern University presents a performance of Sextet by Present-Continuous, a new music ensemble based at the University of North Carolina Greesboro, Alejandro Rutty, director.