Symphony No. 1 (2024)

Wind Ensemble | ca. 33' | grade 6

Program Note

In the fall of 2015, my grandmother Joyce was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death among adults in the United States, and the 5th leading cause among adults 65 and older. It is a form of dementia, a progressive disease that causes the posterior part of the brain to shrink and affected brain tissue to produce abnormal deposits of proteins. These abnormal proteins cause the nerves to become tangled, damaging and destroying brain cells, which gradually leads to the loss of memory and other important cognitive functions, including speech and movement. The root cause of Alzheimer’s is unknown, but speculated to be several different factors combined.

While certain medical treatments can prolong its effects, Alzheimer’s is ultimately incurable.

Initially, my family and I were not prepared for how much our lives were going to be affected by my grandmother’s diagnosis. Everything changed very quickly, and we spent a great deal of time learning to adapt, practically and emotionally. Finding ways to cope with reality were tough, and it was even tougher watching my grandmother’s condition gradually worsen. There’s a particular pain — a slow-burning grief — that ensues watching a loved one fade away in front of you over time, knowing there is nothing that can be done.

Since then, my family and I have gotten our bearings: we’ve grown to accept our situation, and we’ve discovered a newfound optimism within us, through our religious faith. We do everything we can to live fully in the moment and cling desperately onto what still remains of my grandmother, understanding that with each passing day, it becomes less and less. I wanted to compose a piece that could encapsulate this continuous journey; a work that could serve as a reflection on her condition, a personal outpouring of emotion, and an exclamation of faith and acceptance, all in one. The result of this inspiration was Symphony No. 1.