ABOUT THE WORK:
SCORED FOR: high voice, flute, and piano
TOTAL TIME: [6:00]
also scored for: flute choir (6 parts) and high voice WNM42001
IF—
The idea for this work has its roots in the early 1990s when I was in the eighth grade. At that time I had no idea I would become a composer, nor did I understand or enjoy poetry, but a seemingly small, insignificant school assignment created a lifelong impression on me. Our teacher Ms. Anna Campbell, gave us this poem, IF— by Rudyard Kipling, and required us to memorize and recite it for our classmates. As a person who has a tremendous difficulty memorizing words, this process was demanding for me. However, decades later, this poem still lives in my mind and is still a source of inspiration. The music industry is extremely competitive, and as a composer I receive rejections from ensembles, conductors, players, contests, and festivals on a weekly basis. That process can be very discouraging for any writer, regardless of where they are in their career.
