to my distant past (SATB)

to my distant past is the second movement of my 2023 work Two Letters to Self. The larger work sets texts that explore our relationship to our past selves through the clear lens of retrospect.

ii. to my distant past gives empathy and caring to the old versions of ourselves that traversed the mountains and valleys of our lives, before we knew we'd be alright in the end. To me, the most important line of the poem “I’ll be there for you then,” “then” meaning through the good and the bad. I tried to highlight the “then’s” by repeating them like bells throughout the movement.

I've worked with poet Leela Srinivasan on previous projects, and so enjoy her exquisite poetry. A hallmark of her work is quiet introspection and exploration of internal emotion, brought into the visceral world through colorful, evocative, and unusual word choices and descriptions. When I first read these poems, I couldn't stop imagining them set for choir, precious words echoing through the rich texture of many voices together. I feel incredibly grateful for the opportunity to do so now.

Commissioned by Consonance (formerly Chicago Choral Artists) and Michael Costello, artistic director.

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