HYMNING (2016)
FOR SOLO MARIMBA
8 minutes
Program Notes
I grew up singing and playing hymns. I’m not particularly religious, but somehow they stuck with me. I love them for that. I love how they’ve always been there. How they never fail to reach me, to draw out some long forgotten feeling. They’re like an old friend: we don’t keep in touch so well, but every time we see each other we pick up right where we left off. My piece Hymning is like a daydream, a quiet stroll through hazy recollections of these tunes. I don’t think I quote anything specifically, rather it’s a sort of fantasy, an extended riff on little phrases that feel similar to probably hundreds of different tunes. After a long, meandering first section the music finds it’s way back to the beginning. On second look the tune takes a few unexpected turns. Digressions lead to wistful flourishes and unexpected tonal detours before returning once again to the opening idea. The piece ends, but I think there’s a sense it might still be going, quietly, barely heard, somewhere off in the distance. I can pick up this thread any time. It’s always there.
Hymning was commissioned by Michael Burritt and premiered November 11, 2016 at PASIC 2016, Indianapolis, IN.
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Recent Performances
March 12, 2023 Eastern Washington University, Chenery, WA. Jon Fick.
May 1, 2022 James C. Olson Performing Arts Center, Kansas City, MO. Jack Milzarek.
March 7, 2022 Liberty University School of Music, Lynchburg, VA. Sierra Mitchell.
March 2, 2022 Liberty University School of Music, Lynchburg, VA. Sierra Mitchell.
April 17, 2021 University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. Sam Hantzsch.
October 24, 2020 Morgan Concert Hall, Kennesaw State University, GA. Jared Cook.
April 22, 2020 TCU Livestream. Aaron Mincey & Audrey Holden.
June 2, 2019 Central Washington University, Ellensburg, WA. Andrew Samuelson.
April 27, 2019 Towson University, Towson, MD. Andrew Schwartz.
March 3, 2019 Southeastern University, Lakeland, FL. Brian Blume.