From the Heart of Ra, a work for viola and piano, was written for violist Leslie Perna, who plays the work here. It is in six sections, each representing how ancient Egyptians thought of the soul and its journey in the afterlife. The album also includes Six Bagatelles for String Trio, Seven Musical Portraits for Two Violas, and Three Musical Meditations for String Trio. Leslie Perna, violist, has appeared as a teacher, performer and recording artist (Albany, Aquebis, Berklee, Capstone, Centaur and CRI labels) across the Americas, Europe and Asia. After earning a Bachelor of Music degree from Baldwin-Wallace College Conservatory and a graduate degree from Boston University, she studied chamber music at the Chautauqua and Blossom music festivals, and with members of the Cleveland, Emerson, Kolisch and Muir quartets. Her performances have been broadcast internationally on radio and television in the Americas and Canada, including National Public Radio, public radio stations across the country, Brazil's Radio and TV MEC, and ABC's Nightly News with Peter Jennings.