I Never Saw Another Butterfly was my first Holocaust-themed song cycle. The work sets six poems by children who were killed in the Holocaust and the cycle progresses from feelings of innocence and hope to those of despair and sorrow.
Composed in 1996 and scored for solo voice with alto saxophone, I later created additional versions with either clarinet or bassoon as the accompaniment. The bassoon version was specifically composed for Frank Morelli to perform with soprano Naomi Gurt Lind, on Ruth Sommers’ 2002 Festival Chamber Music concert May 1, 2002 at Merkin Hall in NYC. This latest recording with mezzo-soprano Janna Baty and bassoonist Frank Morelli was released on January 9, 2026 on the Musica Solis label and can be found on all streaming platforms.
