Program Notes
Time passes. Surrounded but somehow still alone. Always another obstacle. Another setback. Each hit takes another piece of my soul. So tired. I just want to give up. Then I remember all that you endured, the unconditional love you gave me, all that you taught me, and how you fought to the bitter end. So, I get up, yet again, and dust myself off, go back to the gym and prepare for the next round. Years go by, I become increasingly aware that the reflection starring back at me looks less and less like the boy that started this journey. The ticking of the clock is almost audible. But I push forward and focus on the task at hand.
Performance Tips
This one is very "on the nose" musically speaking so the performer should be able to feel their way through. It covers a very large span of time; from mid-childhood to middle age.
Moments (Music Gestures)
We start with a "back to the grind" passage. There is a sense that this has happened countless times (m. 1)
Once again those efforts are undone by forces beyond your control. (m. 9)
Memories of her pull you out of self pity and back into the fight. (m. 13)
Montage of dusting yourself off and getting back to your feet| Getting knocked back down. (m. 20)
Montage continues but a ticking clock is imposed over it as the years pass. (m. 31)
Finally, a small measure of victory is achieved and the fight to hold on to it begins. (m. 45)
We end with a sense that this could be the light at the end of a very long tunnel. (m. 57)