koʻu inoa — solo viola (/violin/cello/guitar) (2017), flexible duration (5–11’)
koʻu inoa — orchestral version: 11(eh)01 / 1000 / timp.perc / str (2017, rev. 2021), duration 5’
koʻu inoa — string orchestra version (2017, rev. 2022), duration 5’
Described as "a homesick bariolage based on the anthem Hawaiʻi Aloha," koʻu inoa exists in several forms. Lanzilotti began composing the original solo viola work by playing the anthem in Germany to feel closer to home, taking time to explore the soothing melody, and feeling the resonant vibrations of home through the fingers on strings.
koʻu inoa translates from ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi to "my name is" and frames a perspective and statement to absorb the meaning of identity. Melody is the most substantial element to impart musical distinction and identity. A succession of pitches is the equivalent of letters to a name. Even when the rhythm is altered, the original melody lingers and is recognizable. This connection between pitch, melody, time, and personal identity is one of many metaphors at the heart of this music.
Hawaiʻi Aloha, usually performed at the end of concerts, offers the audience a parting gesture of farewell to sing as one, to be a community connected. When koʻu inoa is performed as a concert opener, the anthem becomes a welcoming gesture rooted in the Kanaka Maoli protocols of first contact; to introduce who you are. As listeners, the invitation stands to meditate on our identity, discover meaning in the melody of our name, and feel rooted and connected to the place we call home.
— Excerpt from program notes by Dr. Michael-Thomas Foumai, Lecturer, Academy of Creative Media, University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu, originally written for the orchestral premiere of koʻu inoa, April 2022
Original version for viola premiered October 7, 2017 at The TANK Center for Sonic Arts by Lanzilotti. Cello version premiered virtually April 14, 2020 by Chris Chorney for the Punahou Sessions, Honolulu, HI and premiered live August 28, 2020 by Andrew Yee at TOURISTS Welcome, North Adams, MA. Violin version premiered May 11, 2020 by Yaz Lancaster as part of their New York University Virtual Masters Recital, New York, NY. Version for symphony orchestra premiered by the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra at Hawaiʻi Theatre on April 13, 2022. String orchestra version premiered February 11, 2023 by the String Orchestra of Brooklyn St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church, New York, NY.
Live on Dots+Loops Series, Cupo, Brisbane, Australia (Friday, March 16, 2018)
The recording team at the Polynesian Star Navigational Compass designed by artist Leighton Lam ’74 and surrounded by lava rock and ʻohiʻa posts.
Chris Chorney recording koʻu inoa in Ka‘aumoana, an open-sided hale on Punahou Campus honoring David Ka‘aumoana McKenney ’83 (Ka‘au).
Andrew Yee performing koʻu inoa live at TOURISTS Welcome, North Adams, MA (Friday, August 28, 2020)
Yaz Lancaster performing koʻu inoa at Bang on a Can Summer Music Festival, MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA (Monday, July 25, 2022)
Ashley Bathgate performing koʻu inoa on National Sawdust’s Digital Discovery Festival (2020)
Darkness Sounding, Floating + TreePeople, Los Angeles, CA. Photo by Sam Lee.
Digital download of the sheet music for koʻu inoa for solo violin.
Digital download of the sheet music for koʻu inoa for solo viola.
Digital download of the sheet music for koʻu inoa (version for cello).
Physical set of score and parts for koʻu inoa for symphony orchestra (1101 / 1000 / timp.perc / str), duration 5’.
Physical set of score and parts for koʻu inoa for string orchestra, duration 5’.
Upcoming Performances
Thursday, November 21, 2024 — Palaver Strings performs koʻu inoa for string orchestra at Pickman Hall, Longy School of Music, Cambridge, MA
Saturday, November 23rd, 2024 (2pm & 7pm) — Palaver Strings performs koʻu inoa for string orchestra at Mechanics Hall, Portland, ME
Sunday, December 1, 2024 — Agarita Chamber Ensemble performs koʻu inoa at The McNay Art Museum, San Antonio, TX
Thursday, December 19, 2024 — One and the Other: A Solo Violin Recital by Lilit Hartunian featuring koʻu inoa (violin), Edward H. Linde Gallery, MFA Boston, MA
Friday, April 4, 2025 — Ensemble for These Times, "Women in Transit” at Cha Chi Ming Hall, Bowes Center, SF Conservatory of Music, San Fransisco, CA
Past Performances
Saturday, November 16, 2024 — Palaver Strings performs koʻu inoa for string orchestra at Carrol Hall, Brooklyn, NY
Friday, November 15, 2024 — Palaver Strings performs koʻu inoa for string orchestra at Next Stage Arts, Putney VT
Saturday, November 9, 2024 — Aoise O'Dwyer performs koʻu inoa at the Esker Arts Centre, Tullamore, Co. Offaly, Ireland
Friday, November 1, 2024 — Rachel Lee Priday Fluid Dynamics Album Release Show: Live Multimedia featuring my works to speak in a forgotten language and koʻu inoa, as well as works by Paul Wiancko, Gabriella Smith, and Timo Andres among others. Chatter: Late Works, Albuquerque, NM
Sunday, October 20, 2024 — Jenny Khafagi (viola), Mattinuto: the Sunday morning concert series at Tempo Rubato, Melbourne, Australia
Tuesday, October 8, 2024 — Rachel Lee Priday Fluid Dynamics Album Release Show: Live Multimedia World premiere featuring my works to speak in a forgotten language and koʻu inoa, as well as works by Paul Wiancko, Gabriella Smith, and Timo Andres among others. Meany Center for the Performing Arts, Seattle, WA
Wednesday, September 4, 2024 — Ken Murray (guitar) premieres the guitar version of kai uli on New Music Studio: New Music 40 in Hanson Dyer Hall, The Ian Potter Southbank Centre, University of Melbourne, Australia
Wednesday, August 7, 2024 — Nina Vanhoenacker (cello), Extended Music Collective at Fulton Street Collective, Chicago, IL
Monday, July 29, 2024 – Arlen Hlusko (cello) performs koʻu inoa, Bang on a Can Gallery Concerts by Festival Faculty, MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA
Thursday, July 18, 2024 — Nina Vanhoenacker (cello), Cafe De Korf - MAFestival, Brugge, Belgium
Sunday, June 16, 2024 — Clara Kim (violin), Dendrinos Chapel/Recital Hall, Interlochen Arts Camp, Interlochen, MI
Saturday, May 11, 2024 — Taylor DeCastro, Harper Hall, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI
Sunday, May 5, 2024 — India Gailey (cello), Sunday Music in the Garden Room, KCIC Garden Room, Acadia University, Nova Scotia, Canada
Wednesday, May 1, 2024 — Kamryn McCrory (cello), Cleveland State University, Cleveland, Ohio
Sunday, April 21, 2024 — Clara Kim (violin), Greenwood House Concert, New York, NY
Saturday, April 20, 2024 — Victoria Lorenzi, Crane School of Music, University in Potsdam, NY
Friday, April 19, 2024 — Nina Vanhoenacker (cello), Live @ radio Klara Auguste Reyerslaan 52, 1043 Brussels, Belgium
Sunday, April 7, 2024 — Aurélien Pétillot, Église Notre Dame des Ange, Bordeaux, France
Tuesday, March 26, 2024 — Diane Phoenix-Neal, James Madison University School of Music, Harrisonburg, VA
Sunday, March 24, 2024 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, The Noguchi Museum, Long Island City, NY
Wednesday, March 20, 2024 — Meg Cohen (violin), Music, She Wrote Festival, Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia
Saturday, March 2, 2024 — William Vyvyan Murray, No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne, Australia
Wednesday, February 28, 2024 — Amanda Gookin, Bright Box Theater, Shenandoah Conservatory, Winchester, VA
Wednesday, February 21, 2024 — India Gailey (cello), Scotia Festival Chamber Players: Problematica at The Music Room, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 — India Gailey (cello), Canadian Music Centre: Problematica at CMC Ontario, Toronto, Canada
Sunday, January 28, 2024 — Wild Up x Lanzilotti, performing Sky Gate, ahupuaʻa, hānau ka ua, koʻu inoa, and beyond the accident of time, followed by a set featuring the music of inti figgis-vizueta, Darkness Sounding, Floating + TreePeople, Los Angeles, CA More Info
Sunday, January 21, 2024 — William Vivian Murray, St. Georges O.S. Hall, Black White Wings, Queenscliff, Australia
Saturday, January 20, 2024 — William Vivian Murray, No Vacancy Gallery, Black White Wings, CBD, Australia
Friday, January 19, 2024 — William Vivian Murray, Apax Studios, Black White Wings, Preston, Australia
Friday, November 17, 2023 — Katie Yap, Tempo Rubato, Melbourne, Australia
Wednesday, November 15, 2023 — William Vivian Murray, Bayside Gallery, Brighton Town Hall, Brighton, Victoria, Australia
Tuesday, November 14, 2023 — SLSO musicians, Live at the Pulitzer: Line and Light, Pulitzer Arts Foundation, St. Louis, MO
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 — Jay Julio, Hudson Park Library, New York, NY
Saturday, October 21, 2023 — Brookline Symphony (version for symphony orchestra), All Saints Parish, Brookline, MA
Thursday, October 12, 2023 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, the strong pulse beneath the charred earth: the music of Leilehua Lanzilotti, Hanson Dyer Hall, University of Melbourne, Australia
Friday, October 6, 2023 — Clara Kim (violin), Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE), IL
Wednesday, October 4, 2023 — Nina Vanhoenacker (cello), Miry Concertzaal, Gent, Belgium
Thursday, September 28, 2023 — Nicki Chen, Hodgepodge Hodgepodge, Los Angeles, CA
Sunday, August 20, 2023 — Nina Vanhoenacker (cello), Urban Refuge, Reiefestival, Bruges, Belgium
Friday, August 18, 2023 — Nina Vanhoenacker (cello), Urban Refuge, Reiefestival, Bruges, Belgium
Wednesday, August 02, 2023 — Paul Wiancko (cello), Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, Rolston Recital Hall, Evolution: Classical, Banff, Alberta, Canada
Saturday, July 29th, 2023 — Andrew Yee (cello), Bās Bookshop, Honolulu, HI
Saturday, June 24, 2023 — Jules Biber (cello), New Music Gathering, Portland State University, OR
Sunday, June 18, 2023 — Clara Kim (violin), Faculty Chamber Music Concert, Interlochen Arts Camp, Interlochen, Michigan
Saturday, June 3, 2023 — Andrew Yee (cello), Nadia Sirota (viola) and friends, Music for Transitions, Presented by REDCAT, Roy and Edna Disney CalArts Theater, CAL ARTS (California Institute of the Arts), Los Angeles, CA
Saturday, May 20, 2023 — Freya Downey, Resonator Art Institute, Norman, OK
Saturday, April 29, 2023 — Lily Rutledge, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN
Monday, April 10, 2023 — Jordan Grantonic, University of Colorado Boulder, CO
Sunday, April 2, 2023 — Kayleigh Miller performs koʻu inoa as part of the Britt Festival spring chamber music concerts, Curry Public Library, Gold Beach, OR
Sunday, April 2, 2023 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, Newman Center for the Performing Arts, University of Denver, CO
Saturday, April 1, 2023 — Kayleigh Miller performs koʻu inoa as part of the Britt Festival spring chamber music concerts, Jacksonville Public Library in Jacksonville, OR
Sunday, March 26, 2023 — William Murray, Norla Dome, The Mission to Seafarers, Victoria, Australia
Saturday, March 25, 2023 — William Murray, Norla Dome, The Mission to Seafarers, Victoria, Australia
Saturday, March 25, 2023 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, Arts for Life series, The Carpenter Performing Arts Center, CSULB, CA
Thursday, March 23, 2023 — Andrew Yee (cello) and String Orchestra of Brooklyn perform both versions (solo and string orchestra) of koʻu inoa, String Theories, Roulette, New York, NY
Thursday, March 23, 2023 — Maggie Snyder, Ramsey Recital Hall, UGA Performing Arts Center, University of Georgia, GA
Sunday, March 19, 2023 — Francesca McNeeley (cello) of A Far Cry, Pickman Hall, Longy School of Music of Bard College, Cambridge, MA
Saturday, March 18, 2023 — Francesca McNeeley (cello) of A Far Cry, St John’s Church, Boston, MA
Thursday, March 9, 2023 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, ArtPower, University of California San Diego, CA
Thursday, March 2, 2023 — Jordan Bak, VivaViola!, New York Broadway Presbyterian Church, New York, NY
Tuesday, February 21, 2023 — Patrick Yim (violin), Asia Premiere, Cosmopolis Festival, Shaw Auditorium, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
Thursday, February 16, 2023 — Amanda Gookin (cello), Strathmore, Bethesda, MD
Saturday, February 11, 2023 — The String Orchestra of Brooklyn (string orchestra version premiere), St. Ann and the Holy Trinity Church, New York, NY
Tuesday, January 31, 2023 — Ayane Kozasa, Faculty Recital, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, OH
Sunday, January 8, 2023 — Maggie Snyder, Emannuel Episcopal Church, Athens, GA
Saturday, December 10, 2022 — William Vyvyan Murray, St. Georges Hall, Queenscliffe, Australia
Sunday, October 9, 2022 — Iida-Vilhelmiina Sinivalo (cello), Keravan seurakuntakeskus, Kerava, Finland
Friday, September 16, 2022 — Andrew Yee (cello), The Greene Space, New York, NY
Wednesday, June 29, 2022 — Noelia Gomez, Inner Light Festival, Casa de la India, Valladolid, Spain
Monday, July 25, 2022 — Yaz Lancaster, Bang On A Can Summer Festival, Mass MoCA, MA
Friday, July 15, 2022 — Leilehua Lanzilotti (Japan Premiere), Born Creative Festival, Tokyo, Japan
Friday, June 10, 2022 — Molly Cob, Tempo Rubato, Brunswick, Australia
Thursday, May 26, 2022 — Melia Watras, Wayward Music Series, Chapel Performance Space at the Good Shepherd Center, Seattle, WA
Friday, May 13, 2022 — Melia Watras, Reading and Discussion of New Music by Joël-François Durand, Leilehua Lanzilotti and Melia Watras: Brechemin Auditorium, School of Music, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Saturday, April 30, 2022 — Rachel Wolchok, Senior Recital in Kulas Hall, Oberlin Conservatory, Oberlin, OH
Saturday & Sunday, April 23 & 24, 2022 — Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra (version for symphony orchestra), Halekulani Masterworks, Hawaiʻi Theatre Center, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
Friday, April 22, 2022 — Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra (*world premiere of version for symphony orchestra), HapaSymphony Series, Hawaiʻi Theatre Center, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi
Monday, April 11, 2022 — Melia Watras, Gerlich Theater in Meany Hall at the University of Washington, WA
Friday, April 8, 2022 — Yaz Lancaster (version for violin), The Poetry Project’s 55th Anniversary Gala, New York, NY
Monday, April 4, 2022 — Patrick Yim (version for violin), Orvis Auditorium, Honolulu, HI
Thursday, March 31, 2022 — William Vyvyan Murray, Tempo Rubato, Brunswick, Australia
Tuesday, March 29, 2022 — Jordan Bak, Wigmore Hall, London, UK
Sunday, January 23, 2022 — Gabrielle Kancachian, Künstlerhaus Mousonturm, Frankfurt, Germany
Friday, January 14, 2022 — William Vyvyan Murray, Tempo Rubato, Brunswick, Australia
Sunday, November 27, 2022 — Superb Third Suites performed by William Vyvyan Murray, St Georges Old School Hall, Cnr of Hobson & Learmonth Street, Queenscliff, Australia
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 — Jordan Bak, Viva Viola! at Parker Hall, Brevard Music Center, NC
Wednesday, September 15, 2021 — Kieran Welch, Dots+Loops at UQ Art museum, University of Queensland, Australia
Sunday, August 15, 2021 — Isabel Ong (version for violin), Delaware Park’s Juicery hosted by Liminal Space Ensemble, Buffalo, NY
Friday, August 6th, 2021 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, Portrait Concert, Tenri Cultural Institute, New York, NY. This project was supported, in part, by a Foundation for Contemporary Arts Emergency Grant.
Saturday, July 10th, 2021 — Nina Vanhoenacker (version for cello), Extended Music Collective, De Pinte, Belgium
Sunday, June 27, 2021 — Isabel Ong (version for violin), Songs at the Hearth: Part two, Isabel Ong, YouTube Live
Thursday, June 17, 2021 — Andrew Yee (version for cello), Performance Today: Celebrating and Honoring Pride, Your Classical, Saint Paul, MN (National Radio)
Sunday, May 23, 2021 — Jorge A. Peña, SUNDAYS with SAMF at the St. Augustine Art Association, FL
Saturday, March 27, 2021 — Molly Collier-O’Boyle, MPavilion, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Saturday, January 30, 2021 — Andrew Yee (version for cello), Music at MAD, Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY
Saturday, December 5, 2020 — Jordan Bak, Music at MAD, Museum of Arts and Design, New York, NY
Friday, December 4, 2020 — Andrew Yee (version for cello), Sola Album Release, Brooklyn, NY
Monday, November 30, 2020 — Katie Yap, Wattleseed Ensemble: Home, Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, Port Fairy, Australia
Tuesday, October 6, 2020 — Kieran Welch: A Missing Moon, School of Music and University of Queensland Art Museum, Australia
Friday, August 28, 2020 — Andrew Yee (version for cello), TOURISTS Welcome Artist-in-Residence, North Adams, MA
Saturday, August 15, 2020 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, Alone at Noguchi, The Noguchi Museum, Long Island City, NY
Wednesday, May 20, 2020 — Ashley Bathgate (version for cello), National Sawdust Digital Discovery Festival, New York, NY
Monday, May 11, 2020 — Yaz Lancaster (version for violin), New York University Virtual Masters Recital, New York, NY
Tuesday, April 21, 2020 — Molly Collier-O'Boyle, 5@5 with Camerata, Australia
Friday, April 17, 2020 — Kieran Welch, Cre8tive Nations : Love Letter 21, Brisbane, Australia
Tuesday, April 14, 2020 — Chris Chorney (version for cello), Punahou Sessions, Honolulu, HI
Saturday, November 23, 2019 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, Cosy Nook, London, UK
Thursday, October 10, 2019 — Molly Collier-O'Boyle, Australian National Academy of Music, South Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Saturday, August 3, 2019 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, Carlsbad Music Festival, Carlsbad, CA
Thursday, August 1, 2019 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, Montecito International Music Festival, Montecito, CA
Friday, February 8, 2019 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, Tenri Cultural Institute, New York, NY
Thursday, July 12, 2018 — Kieran Welch, Bang on a Can Summer Music Institute at MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA
Monday, May 14, 2018 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, Metropolis Space, New York Premiere, New York, NY
Friday, March 16, 2018 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, Dots+Loops Series, Australian Premiere, Cupo, Brisbane, Australia
Friday, February 9, 2018 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, University of Hawaiʻi, Honolulu, HI
Saturday, October 7, 2017 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, The TANK Center for Sonic Arts, World Premiere, Ridgley, CO