Peace

I have made it a habit of creating a piece of music for each of my three children. In 1999, I wrote my first published piece entitled Eventide for my wife, Whitney, and my oldest daughter, Caitlyn. In 2017, I arranged a piece entitled We May Rise for my daughter Lauren. Fast forward to 2023. This is my son's senior year in high school. This piece is written as an expression of love and gratitude for the distinct privilege of being Cameron's father.

In addition to being a great trumpet player, Cameron also plays basketball. In 2021, he entered into a series of trials that would distract and demoralize anyone - a torn hamstring that created additional issues with his growth plate. We wondered if he would ever fully recover. As a parent, this is hard to watch. I can't imagine what it was like for Cameron. Through it all, he remained faithful to his recover regimens and eventually found himself back on the court a year later stronger than ever.

Each of us enters into life's challenges with a different perspective. I learned so much about faith and trust by watching my son enter his trial with a perspective well beyond his years. But it is the beginning of trials that I find the most interesting. How do we know it will all be okay in the end? Is there such a thing as peace amid challenges?

This piece both asks and answers that question. The first section begins with the first phrase of the hymn It Is Well. However, it is presented in minor as if to ask "Is peace really 'like a river that attendeth my way' amid challenges?" The second section acts as a sort of answer in its presentation of the hymn Thou Wilt Keep Him in Perfect Peace based on the biblical text from Isaiah 26:3. The return of the A section interrupts that answer as if to say "Does it really?"

The C section of the work begins with a solo trumpet that begins to declare the answer. This section is a full presentation of the first stanza of It Is Well that progresses through a series of questioning harmonic modulations that ultimately leads to the arrival of the chorus in a major key. Following this triumphant resolution, the ostinato pattern indicative of the A section returns, hinting at the reality of additional obstacles still yet to come. Amid these continued questions is a final resolute statement of the hymn I Surrender All.

The music concludes with a statement that when challenges and trials come, peace does indeed come our way when we choose to surrender to the lessons they are designed to teach us. When our mind is indeed "stayed on" that truth, we can persevere and endure. The counter melody present throughout the piece is based on the notes C-A-E. Using Durufle's musical alphabet, these notes spell CAM, our family nickname for Cameron. Instruments presenting melodic material throughout in flute, alto saxophone, oboe, and trombone represent our family. Whitney is an accomplished flute and alto saxophone musician. Lauren played the oboe. Caitlyn played the trombone. In this way, thispiece, like the others written for my children, is a musical representation of our family.

This piece was commissioned by the Stonebriar Wind Symphony for their Memorial Day concert in May 2024. Our family has been blessed by this ensemble for many years. It has served as an opportunity for all of us to share in making music together as a family at one time or another.