A Path to Hope

A Path to Hope is a set of three short works drawing inspiration from reflections written by Canadian choral music educators early in the COVID-19 pandemic as part of a collaborative commissioning project called Sonic Timelapse Project. These works may be performed separately or as a set. Each movement was composed as a short response to a specific idea, emotion, or question found within one or more of the reflections as part of my own journey to finding hope in uncertain times. Each work includes short spoken sections featuring fragments from or inspired by the material in these written reflections. However, although this piece was born during a unique time in our history it’s themes of voicelessness, overcoming fear, and seeking hope, are timeless and universal.

A Path to Hope was co-commissioned by Ariose Women's Choir, ChandraTala (part of the Kokopelli Choir Association), Myriad, and the Sonic Timelapse Project.

SSAA

SATB

i) Without Voice

Composed entirely for body percussion the first movement, Without Voice, is a loose play on the morse code spelling of the word “voiceless” and represents the struggle to find a place or ‘voice’ in a silent world where no one is listening.

ii) The Fear

The second movement, The Fear, is inspired by Canadian poet Pat Lowther’s work of the same name. Sung to a short repeated mantra, this song is about building the strength to face fear itself by learning to accept the constancy of change and in doing so, embracing growth instead.

iii) Believe

The final movement, Believe, is a brief yet potent response to the uncertainty of the future and serves as a reminder of our own resilience and the power of hope.

Body percussion tutorial for "Without Voice"