Painter of Garden of Earthly Delights?

Bosch is often considered to be a "moralizing artist" and much of his artwork does seem to be making a statement about the grave danger of submitting oneself to a life ruled by sensual pleasures and decadence. However, the images depicting the sensuality are so vividly depicted, so full of color and life, that the painting has elicited many different reactions from its viewers.

The painting had an immediate impact upon me and some time later I began to imagine musical textures that in some way gave voice to my strong reactions to Bosch's painting. My work, though influenced by the energy and dark intensity of Bosch's painting, does not attempt in any way to be a "musical analog" for this triptych. Rather, my reaction to the painting provided an impetus for the creation of the basic musical materials and formal structure of the composition. The music then began to take on a life of its own, moving in different directions than it would have were it a strictly programmatic work. In particular, I was not interested in making any kind of grand moral statement regarding the issues suggested in Bosch's painting. I did find, however, that certain compelling, visually striking images stayed with me and suggested an interesting visceral embodiment in sound.