Current Projects
Thumbprint: Collaboration with Susan Yankowitz and Beth Morrison Projects. Thumbprint is a 90-minute music-theater work exploring the life and impact of Mukhtar Mai, the first woman in Pakistan to successfully convict her assailants in an honor crime. This piece is a true fusion work, borrowing equally from Hindustani music, qawwali, kirtan, and Western harmonies.
Murder on Beverly Road: commissioned by Opera on Tap. Kamala joins Rob Reese once more to create a fully immersive comedic murder mystery opera in the style of Agatha Christie.
Bombay Rickey: Counting Morricone, Yma Sumac, and RD Burman among its influences, Bombay Rickey might be the soundtrack to a spaghetti western that never existed…
Past Work: Theater and Opera
Coffee Shop from Kamala Sankaram on Vimeo.
Miranda (2012): a 60-minute steampunk murder-mystery chamber opera in which the six instrumentalists play, sing, and act all the parts. Through a lush score inspired by diverse genres such as Baroque opera, Hindustani music, tango, hip-hop, and found-sound audioscapes, Miranda’s story unfolds in song, sound, movement, video, and dialogue. Voting from their seats, audience members actively participate in solving this musical mystery, ultimately choosing and convicting Miranda’s killer.
Miranda ran at HERE Arts Center from January 12-21, 2012.
SOUNDING (2010)- at HERE Arts Center
Rock songs for voice, electric guitar, piano, cello, accordion, and electronics.
Can I Help You? (2008)- Bushwick Starr
Live electronic soundscapes.
The Nose (2007)- Collective Unconscious
Accordion mazurkas for an original puppet play based on Gogol’s short story.
Film
Dentist (2007)
Score for an award-winning short animated film by Signe Baumane
Chamber Music
Baby (2012)- commissioned by Delea Shand: Two sopranos and glockenspiel
Bruja-Ha! (2012): Violin, cello, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, trombone, tuba, drumkit
Second Moon (2011)- commissioned by the Flexible Orchestra and Guy Klucevsek: 5 accordions, violin, upright bass
Cavity Creeps (2011): Accordion, cello, electric guitar, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone
boxesBoxesBOXES! (2011): Cello and electronics
All Mashed Up (2010)- commissioned by Opera on Tap: Soprano, tenor, violin, cello, electric guitar, clarinet, electronics.
Balkanization (2010): Violin, cello, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, accordion.
Pilgrim (2010): Two pianos, marimba, electric guitar, bass, violin, and voices.
Six years later (2010): Piano, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, violin, cello.
Mirror (2010)- commissioned by Margaret Lancaster: Solo flute and electronics
A Stalk of Wheat (2009)- commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects, Opera on Tap and Vision into Art: Song cycle for soprano, piano, violin, cello, electric guitar, and bass clarinet
Ghosts (2009)- commissioned by the Flexible Orchestra: Eleven flutes, piano, and voice.
SLAM (2009): Duet for flute and violin
Gavagai (2009) Commissioned by Steven Parker: Trombone and electronics
The Bitter Suite (2008)- Commissioned by Anti-Social Music: Song cycle for soprano, viola, cello, electric guitar, and upright bass.
Biffbamboom (2008): Electric guitar, trumpet, and electronics.
Bloodletting (2008): Song cycle for voice, violin, cello, trumpet, tuba, accordion, and electronics.
Noir (2007): Song cycle for voice, violin, cello, trumpet, tuba, accordion, and electronics.