Written as a requiem for a departed friend and first performed with dancers in a double-helix space, BARDO (Tibetan for “portal”), the composer writes, “is a surreal, musical drama narrating the metamorphosis of “The Fool,” a Tarot character, “as he experiences a psycho-spiritual journey through a cycle of darkness and despair transitioning after a destructive center to the afterlife, which eventually unfold into a positive blossoming of transcendence and fortunate rebirth.” The piece feels like quite well written movie music - easy to listen to, with interesting melodies, harmonies, sonic effects and structure. It references The Tarot System, The Tibetan Book of the Dead, sound healing/esoteric sound theories, and sacred geometry. The BARDO booklet has lengthy descriptions of the meaning and sounds of each track. A “portal” into an environment preludes each mvmt. BARDO I depicts earthly desire and attachment. Track 2, “Rise Tower Arise,” drones as this occurs. BARDO II incorporates Scriabin’s “Mystical Chord” (C, F#, Bb, E, A, D), as The Fool witnesses Divine Destruction. Track 4 sonically depicts a watery transition. In BARDO III, The Fool passes into a state between lives, accompanied by music derived from the pentagram. Track 6 conveys the ascent of water into ether, using major 7th chords. In BARDO IV The Fool journeys to his next incarnation, with music of triumph, and reminiscences of the piece’s earlier parts.