In 2018 I had a fairly bold idea. I wanted to write a concert-length work or get as close as I could to doing so. To make it worth my time, I reached out to 5 different ensembles to consider being a part of a consortium. The pitch was this, “I wanted to secularize a sacred work.”

I was fascinated with Joseph Campbell at that time and wanted to apply the idea of making a metaphor out of ancient texts. Naturally, I am no poet and don’t consider myself to be that gifted with words. So I reached out to my friend and poet, Brian Newhouse, and asked if he’d be interested in writing a series of responses to the liturgical 7 Last Words of Christ. The prompt was to transform each of the 7 Last Words into a secular, universal metaphor; something that we can draw inspiration from regardless of religious belief.

Brian wrote something so incredibly beautiful, which I’m honored to have set to music. The premiere took place in Fargo, ND, by the Fargo Morehead Choral Artists, and Dr. Michael Culloton. As a long-time fan of choral music that comes out of the frozen north that is Fargo-Morehead, I was deeply honored.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 struck just weeks after the premiere was delayed due to a Blizzard that canceled the initial concert. So I assumed the work was doomed. However, I was lucky enough to have two of the works premiered by Dr. Jo-Michael Scheibe and the USC Chamber Singers, which was a dream come true for me.