...still we lean

Written for Cassandra Eisenreich and Slippery Rock University, this lyrical piece opens with an improvisatory section in which each part explores its own musical ideas independently, giving every player
space for individual expression. The separation of voices evokes a sense of loneliness and disconnection, as though each musician is
searching alone. This fragmented texture gradually builds toward a shared chord, where everyone finally plays together - revealing that
we are united in our yearning to belong to something larger than ourselves.
The following section deepens this sense of longing through music that conveys sadness and loss. Listeners might imagine something
once held but now absent: a person, a former home, or a place of belonging. As the music unfolds, a growing urgency emerges,
suggesting that longing can become a powerful force - one that compels us to move, to change, and to act. The climax features the
same yearning melody set against a more active accompaniment, reflecting both the intensity of desire and the difficulty of fulfilling it.
Some longings may be challenging or even impossible to achieve, yet they can still serve as guiding lights, illuminating what we hope to
create in our lives.
As the energy subsides, the music settles into a gentler, more hopeful version of the melody, which then fades away into a new
interpretation of the opening improvised section. This time, the original melody is inverted so that it is rising instead of descending,
showing a more positive outlook. Players join in with restatements of the melody in an echoing chorus that again unites into one chord.
This time, the group seems more determined to take action and less despondent. The piece closes with a quiet affirmation: even when
our deepest desires remain unmet, we can continue to build a more beautiful life for ourselves - sometimes in small, meaningful ways.