In my opinion our world is currently in great need of reestablishing strong connections one to another, be it with family and friends, neighbors and strangers, nations and nations, or with those of different cultures and religions. In his important book, I and Thou, philosopher-theologian Martin Buber says that the most meaningful life is centered on relationship. As a musician, I felt compelled to express the I-THOU thesis through the human voice. In searching for the right words to express this sentiment, I was fortunate to find Kazuaki Tanahashi’s eloquent poem, “Encounter.” Mr. Tanahashi is a poet, Zen artist, scholar and peace activist. 

This combined-voices version has been adapted from an SATB scoring that features prominently in the original song cycle, I-THOU, written for vocal quartet, commissioned and premiered in 2018 by Fourth Coast Ensemble in Chicago. —Wayland Rogers

About the Series: Doreen Rao, 2019 Robert Shaw Award recipient, launches her culturally inclusive choral series, Global Encounters for Young Voices, featuring accessible treble- and mixed-voice works for developing choirs.