Heaving Sidewalks

Commissioned by the OTR Quartet, Cincinnati, OH

I. Shattering the Shell of Understanding

II. I Love Being You

Saxophone Quartet (SATB)

Available for Flute Quartet and String Quartet

My mom passed away from cancer when I was in sixth grade. I was 12 years old. While I grieved during my adolescence, I experienced new pains after leaving my hometown for college. Starting a new life at college made me look back on my life growing up in Terre Haute. That version of myself is completely different than who I am today. Because of this, I was able to reflect in an external way about how the loss of my mom affected me. 

The first movement of Heaving Sidewalks capture the pain and unsettling emotions of this reflection. If my mom were here today, how would my life be different? Why is it so painful to return home? Why do I feel so separated from this past version of myself?

More lighthearted and wholesome, movement II is about the qualities of my mom that I inherit and embody. Recalling memories of my mom, there are personaily traits, interests, and attitudes I have carried into the world that my mom left behind. I love that I get to be a part of her when she is no longer here. 

Heaving Sidewalks is available for ePrint score and parts. Please contact me regarding further details.

Difficulty, Duration, & Instrumentation