Lest We Forget for Bb Clar., Violin and Piano
Small Ensemble - Digital Sheet Music

Lest We Forget, written for the Zodiac Trio, was inspired by the approach of Memorial Day 2006 but has evolved into a composition with a more encompassing vision. The work was originally conceived to depict the horrors of war and to pay tribute to those who served and gave their lives so that freedom can endure. The conception expanded to include the horrors of natural disasters, the destruction of lives and property, and ability of humans to endure and rebound from the depths of despair. In essence, the piece is about the fragility of human life and the triumph of the spirit. The composition is in three movements.

I. Fury - Strong rhythmic and contrapuntal lines depict outbursts of anger or the power of nature. The quieter sections represented a seething that builds to the violent outbursts.

II. Devastation - This movement is filled with musical representations of screams, anger, laments, and hopelessness as one faces the aftermath of destruction. Long melodic lines in minor are interspersed with short motifs throughout the movement.

III. Triumph of the Spirit - The movement begins quietly and slowly as if wandering among the desolation. Two thematic ideas appear during the slow section, one a prayer-like melody in the violin and the other an imitative development of the prayer idea that later representing taking initiative. These ideas transition into a faster tempo where a new theme is introduced that represents determination. The three thematic ideas alternate and development as the movement builds to a climax showing the power of the human spirit to survive catastrophe. This piece is recorded by The Zodiac Trio on their CD The Zodiac Trio.