Reena Esmail - She Will Transform You

for SSATB and orchestra or flute She Will Transform You is centred around a powerful poem by Indian-American author Neelanjana Banerjee. The text explores the special relationship of an immigrant and her child to their country of origin, as well as the significant role that a child from both cultures has in bridging the divide between them. The work moves in and out of the Hindustani raga Rageshree, a raga that is grounded in such a way that the ear feels as though it is never quite 'home': the perfect reflection of the text's depiction of simultaneous belonging and distance. Esmail artfully engages full orchestral forces, both in the orchestral prelude and as backdrop to the choral writing, to create a colourful and vibrant work that draws on the sound-worlds of Western European and Indian traditions.