the three sisters

The Three Sisters

piano, double bass and percussion

The Three Sisters reflects on the indigenous agricultural concept of the same name. The idea describes the practice of companion planting varieties of corn, beans, and squash, the three of which acting symbiotically to help one another grow and thrive. In this piece, each instrument plays the role of one of these crops: the piano represents the corn, the double bass represents the beans, and the percussion represents the squash. Through four sections, the piece explores the behavior of the Three Sisters, beginning with a sonic introduction of the three plants' natures. Then, each crop begins to cement themselves and offer up their own gifts to the others. A rhythmic canonic section interweaves the three instruments, presenting a narrative of interdependence and symbiosis. Finally, the Sisters present themselves in full force, not three but one, before departing as they arrived in gentle serenity.