The title, Net of Gems, comes from India and the mythic image of the Net of Indra. The idea being that each gem reflects the light of other gems in the net, and then that light in turn reflects upon even more gems.

It is an image that has helped give me some semblance of meaning in how humans can impact and relate to one another, and also to what we musicians do when we listen and respond to each other using musical language as a form of communication.

In this duet, Net of Gems, the flute and harp bounce light and my musical ideas off of each other throughout the piece; which hopefully results in connecting the music, the musicians, and the listeners.

Thanks to Erica Goodman and Suzanne Shulman for their light, and for commissioning this piece.

– David Occhipinti
March, 2021