This piece was written for a friend who suffered a catastrophic brain injury and who had to gradually reacquire skills that most of us - mercifully - take for granted. The major/minor harmony represents the alternating hope and discouragement experienced by anyone facing such a monumental task.

Pauses and caesura may be interpreted as the players wish. At Letter E, the neural pathways are getting scrambled up. The notes defining the glissandi are purely notional: players can interpret those gestures as they wish. The important thing is to land on the notes in bar 86, although not necessarily together. Cellos 1 - 3 fade away to nothing while Cello 4 holds over the A. The piece ends with cautious, tender optimism.

Downloadable sample pages found at the link here.

Instrumentation: 2 Violins, Viola, Cello.