In the Absence of Your Ringing (2004) for carillon was commissioned by the Friends of the Albany City Carillon and is dedicated to that organization and Charles Semowich.

When preparing to write this work—my first piece for carillon—several carillonneur friends advised me strongly to remember that that the carillon consists of bells, and not to write “piano music for the carillon” as some composers are wont to do.

This short piece is thus intended fully as “bell music”—tolling, pealing, resounding, and savoring the complex overtones of each bell.

The title and inspiration is taken from the final lines of a poem by Kathleen Wakefield:

Somewhere
a bell savors your distinction.
Sotto voce, one perfect pitch
in the absence of your ringing