Commissioned for the Reynolds Middle School Wind Symphony (Prosper, TX), Laura Bell, Director.
A solo euphonium establishes a melodic motif that carries onto other instruments, like the stories of generations passed.
Listen and imagine the first blades of grass pushing through the dirt, soft and moist, on a new piece of earth. Yes, this land becomes the basis of our civilization, but most importantly, it becomes our home. This land will be that on which childlike imaginations enact their grand adventures, where sweethearts will hold hands and share lifetimes of love, and glistening tears will be shed, both joyous and not.
This is where we are from, this terra firma, where the youngest of friends and happiest of beloveds whisper their secrets and declarations for the future. Where dreams of yesterdays and tomorrows are engraved in stone, and though inner and outer battles will level these hills, and magnificent mountains may themselves be moved by hand, these stories and feelings are immortalized. Great strides over countless ages have been taken to bring us to where we are – the very Past itself is our legacy.
And then the music comes to an end with quiet retellings of these stories… with fresh new blades of grass pushing through ancient soil… with unimaginably tiny hands gripping our cracked and worn fingers… with Heritage.
