From the Ashes

I have decided to put down in print my feelings about some of my compositions. You know, origins, poetry, premiere information, etc. My hope is to post something once to twice a week.

The first piece I'm going to write about is From the Ashes which I wrote at the end of 2017. I was in my second year of my doctoral program at the University of Washington and was feeling a little discouraged. I began to find inspiration in the image of the phoenix who dies by bursting into flame, but is then reborn from the ashes. I knew that I could emerge from my discouragement stronger than when I began.

I wrote the text thinking of the phoenix immediately after the burning as it's about to wake up into a new life.

I sleep.
Enfolded in peace.
The agony and pain Disappear:
The burning, the sorrow, the flame
Enfolded in peace.

I wake.
Entranced by life.
Remembering fire Inside;
Death before sleep, and now
Entranced by life.

I rise.
Enraptured by flight.
The strength within Burning.
Spreading my wings, I soar
Enraptured by flight.
https://www.poetrysoup.com/poem/from_the_ashes_952413

I began to set the music using the text as a guide. I moved from the simplicity of repeated open fifths during "I Sleep" moving forward to the eventual spreading of the wings and the flight of new life.

The music of this piece was influenced by the music of Giselle Wyers, Eric Whitacre, and Jake Runestad.

As I wrote the piece, I didn't have a choir lined up for a performance, but shortly after I started writing, Dr. Geoffrey Boers at the University of Washington said that he wanted to use student compositions in the spring concert, so I began to write with Chamber Singers in mind. When I was finished, I sent it to him and he gave me suggestions that would help shape and improve the piece. It was premiered in May 2018 by the UW Chamber Singers under the direction of Jennifer Rodgers, one of my DMA colleagues.

Written for SSAATTBB choir with piano, the sheet music is available at SheetMusicPlus.com and is appropriate for advanced high school and collegiate groups as well as community choirs.