The Forgiveness Train

This edition is available in both physical book and digital PDF formats; carefully choose from the format options before adding to your cart.  

This edition consists of two performing scores.

From the composer:
"While I never had formal training as a composer, I have always enjoyed writing music. As part of my musical training over the years, I am fortunate to have been inspired by, and to have worked informally with, these special Chicago composers—Bill Karlins, David Bloom and Janice Misurell-Mitchell.

The Forgiveness Train was spawned during the spring and summer of 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. During that time, on one of my darkest days, I had a dream about being on a train that took me through the forest. The train derailed and was left hanging over an open body of water. As I lay there in a capsized train, I heard bird songs as clear as day. There was peace and beauty in the forest amidst the frightening and precarious train wreck. The pandemic seemed to unearth past trauma within me and in the outside world as well. All I wanted to do was wrap myself in a blanket and hibernate until it was over!

My Grandmother, Geraldine Porto, was famous for hand-making quilts for everyone in the family. With her in mind, I wove together the many motifs that came to me during the pandemic lockdown. The form of the first movement is programmatic, like a story quilt. The middle movement is aleatoric in nature and represents an opening, a sort of magical forest oasis. Here, the two clarinets read from the same selection of musical motifs but choose them individually in the moment. The third movemnt is a rhythmic dance of hope and rebirth.

Here are the thoughts that inspired my music: 

I. The Derailment of Fear

We hear a train motif—the train, it’s always running. 
You just need to hop on.
It’s a bumpy ride at times.
There are breakdowns.
Birdsong brings us out of our fear.

II. The Gifts Beneath the Wounds

Two voices, independent, yet dependent on each other. 
Like birds in the forest. 
We choose our themes in the moment.
Creating something beautiful, and sometimes dissonant.

III. The Rhythm of Birth

From bird song to earth song.
Strong rhythms take us from the heavens back to earth.
Something new is being born.
Screams push through the upper range of the clarinet and we approach breakdown.
However, playfulness pokes through.
We step out and see where the train has taken us."