MusicSpoke | Artist Owned Sheet Music™

About the Score

Walk In Beauty, Walk in Light was originally titled, “A Peaceable Kingdom 2024,” as I feel many of our current issues intersect with what was happening during Randall Thompson’s time when The Peaceable Kingdom was originally composed. When I was thinking about Randall’s work, I thought that it would be great to write a response to each of his pieces, then I thought again and said, “That will take too long.” I know sometimes, when I have an idea, I come back to it as this is my gut telling me, “There could be something here…” Maybe if I would have listened to my intuition sooner, I might have written a different, perhaps more prescriptive piece because of lived experiences. After further contemplation and a revelation to let go of the idea of writing just three larger works, I decided to write “mini” pieces. I ended up writing a total of nine new (short and longer) pieces and am very excited for the audience to witness this new work. The text will at times challenge you as well as invite you to think about your own journey and life experiences. My piece is not a direct response to Thompson’s piece; it is written to go alongside his brilliant work in more of a modern style. I sat down with a pencil and paper and wrote down Thompson’s titles and thought carefully of how I would modernize my titles. I intentionally decided not to use scripture, as sometimes scripture misses the mark of being fully inclusive. I did include “Woe Unto You” from Isaiah 5. Throughout my generative writing process, I was guided by these essential questions: 1. Is it possible to live in a peaceable kingdom? 2. Is peace possible? and 3. Can we return to our original light? I ponder these questions every day. I believe “we were born to sing and our singing must not cease; like the song of the bird, may we be forever heard.” In the midst of global upheaval, it is uncomfortable to deal with daily conflict that arises when tensions are mounting all around us. It is my hope that people will continue to have the courage to speak up to protect and support one another instead of remaining silent. As a composition, Walk In Beauty, Walk In Light is an honoring of the natural world, of healing fractured relationships, raising our voices and continuing to work for peace, justice, and transformation for all beings.

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