Jazz musicians seem to have a special affinity for birds. My improvised composition "An

Ancient Temple Garden" reflects my own interest in all sorts of birds, both real and

imagined. The piece is an example of structured open improvisation, based on a simple

idea–the music ascends from an earth bound E Phrygian mode to an F Lydian that suggests

birds soaring through the heavens, then gradually descends back to earth. Although E Phrygian

and F Lydian are made up of the same notes, the two modes are differentiated by registration,

sustained harmonic fields, and by intonation, since I used an alternate tuning in order to create

a contrast between a consonant E Phrygian and a somewhat dissonant F Lydian.