Leilehua Lanzilotti

we began this quilt there — for flute [alto flute] and string quartet (2022)

Commissioned by ETHEL with support from ETHEL’s Foundation for the Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts. The commissioners currently have exclusivity of the work, duration 9’

i. Uluhaimalama
ii. Ku‘u hae aloha
iii. Paoakalani

Drawing upon the playful colors and delicate embroidery of the Queen’s Quilt and the prison songs of Lili‘uokalani, this work explores the kaona (hidden meanings) of the crafts and compositions created by Lili‘uokalani during her imprisonment in Iolani Palace.

The titles of the first two movements of we began this quilt there are references words within the Queen’s Quilt silkscreened on ribbons, likely brought to her in secret either as wrapping for flowers or hidden in baskets of fruit. The last movement title refers to her composition Ku‘u pua i Paoakalani, the melody of which is woven throughout the last movement, and is thought to be an ode to her supporters at Uluhaimalama.

While she was able to publish a couple of her songs during her imprisonment, she was restricted in her communication with the outside world. Instead, she wove her undying love for her nation and her people into her compositions and the quilt itself.

In the center block of the quilt, there are four quadrants embroidered with the queen’s name, birth date, ascension to the throne—followed by dates of her dethroning, abdication, and the uprising that followed. Finally, it records the dates of her imprisonment:

Her Majesty Queen
Liliuokalani
Imprisoned at Iolani Palace
January 17th 1895
. . .
Released Sept 6th 1895
we began this quilt there

Past Performances

Sunday, October 16, 2022 — World Premiere performance by Allison Loggins-Hull & ETHEL, Central Library, Dweck Center, Brooklyn Public Library, NY

Saturday, October 15, 2022 — soft premiere, Allison Loggins-Hull & ETHEL, Date Night at The Met, MET Museum Petrie Court Café, New York, NY

Friday, October 14, 2022 — soft premiere, Allison Loggins-Hull & ETHEL, Date Night at The Met, MET Museum Petrie Court Café, New York, NY