AKSHAYA AVRIL TUCKER
COMPOSER

Program Note:

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The goal of "Hold Sacred" is to soothe. To hold something sacred to us is soothing; to

remember it is soothing.

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I mean to hold sacredness literally. Make "hold" a verb. Hold sacred, as you would a

baby chick, a tiny plant, a memory, or someone’s hand.The gentleness comes from the

desire to protect this dear object, to stay in this comfort for a while...

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With the task of meditating on the concept of "sacredness," for WindSync's "Sacred and

Profane" program, I had to ask what was sacred to me personally. The answer, during

the COVID-19 pandemic, is "touch and feel" things. Repotting plants. Kneading bread

dough. Giving a hug, when possible. Fewer think-y things. These sensations keep me

going mentally. They heal anxiety, like a magical antidote, some special serotonin, while

the memory of who and what I cannot physically hold is difficult.

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We may only create a few moments of soothing sounds together, and then... we will go

right back to the way things are. But maybe just for a moment, we can hold this feeling

in our hands.

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"Hold Sacred" features a blend of abstracted raga-inspired fragments that swirl through

unusual harmonies and (hopefully) invite a meditation on whatever is most soothing to

the listener.