Memento for Orchestra.

Abstract

Memento for orchestra is 11 minutes in duration and was premiered by students of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre and Dance, conducted by Elliot Moore, at the University of Michigan, Britton Recital Hall, on April 6, 2014. The initial inspiration for Memento came from a painting painted by my grandmother, Neva Bohman, in the late 1970’s during a time of overwhelming depression. The painting is a symbol of her healing and proved to be the most effective method in moving past a severe depression in the middle of her life. The work, a scenic view of a lake and a mountain, always moved me because of what it represents; healing through a creative process. It is a memento for me, of which reminds me of her as a person and also the struggles that she went through in life. Sadly, both Neva and her husband Willis, my grandfather on my father’s side, succumbed to Alzheimer’s disease later in life. This degenerative disease has devastating effects both on those who have it and the loved ones who care for those with the disease. I was deeply affected by their suffering and the memory of their struggles inspired me to seek out ways in which the creative arts could play a role in healing from this disease, much like painting helped my grandmother in her times of depression. In Memento I attempted to convey my feelings about memory loss, fear, time and, eventually healing through a variety of atmospheres and textures including echoing strings, tangled and frantic woodwind gestures and wild horn calls. The work is in two parts, the first of which explores ideas about memory and time with atmospheric, swirling textures of echoes and threads. The second part, the beginning of which is marked by a dotted note rhythm in the basses, leads the listener through an energetic space that eventually rests in a place of healing and hope.