WORLD PREMIERE: March 12, 2023 | AUSA Sounds of Freedom Military Concert Band (Monte Gmür, director) | Clovis Veterans Memorial District, Clovis, CA

ORIGINAL VERSION DETAILS

COMMISSIONED BY: The _____ Experiment (Andrew Hosler, Michelle Cusick, Ava Wirth, Maya Grossman, and Danielle Kuntz)
WORLD PREMIERE: October 2, 2021 | The _____ Experiment (Ava Wirth, oboe; Michelle Cusick, Bb clarinet; Maya Grossman, bassoon; Drew Hosler, baritone saxophone; Danielle Kuntz, harp) | virtually recorded August 2021 at The University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance; Ann Arbor, Michigan

ADDITIONAL VERSIONS AVAILABLE

STRING ORCHESTRA
FLEX/ADAPTABLE ENSEMBLE
SAXOPHONE QUARTET
STRING QUARTET

Meditation and Hymn to Nature was written during a tumultuous series of commissions and projects I had worked on for the majority of 2021, ranging from wild and chaotic to dark and terrifying music. The devastation of the COVID-19 pandemic had begun to take its toll worldwide, especially on each of our collective livelihoods, emotions, and mental health. At the time the original version of this piece for flex band was finished, parts of the world were in the beginning stages of being able to safely bring back specific activities - businesses fully re-opening, the means to be able to travel again, and live events, especially those for music and the arts.

During all of this, I struggled (and continue to struggle) with clinically-diagnosed depression and anxiety that had been exponentially exacerbated due to the pandemic. At the beginning of 2021, I decided to set for myself different goals that would inherently focus on improving my own livelihood, daily routines, mental health, and myself as a whole. In shaping these personal goals, meditating and sound healing have now become two key components of my life - two activities that I still continue as much as I can to this day.

This piece is reflective in nature, symbolically shaped in the form of a meditation session. It begins in a dark and lyrical state, progresses into a more turbulent yet fluid current of uncertain energy, and gradually transforms into a calm, healing, and soothing state of mind. Key motivic ideas and sections of musical material inform the structure of the piece, as these are additionally transformed from a disheartened state to a more hopeful and spiritual resolve.

It is therefore my goal with Meditation and Hymn to Nature (and beyond the piece) that those who listen to this work, perform it, or read these program notes will remember this:

You are loved.

You matter.

My sincerest gratitude to The _____ Experiment for commissioning this piece. I am delighted to finally present this long overdue edition for concert band.