A circle, with no beginning and no end, is a symbol of unity and connection. This piece revolves around a single concept: that we are all profoundly connected, biologically and spiritually, to each other and to our planet. Our lives are given meaning through our family circle, our circle of friends, and the very

circle that is our birth and death.

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The first movement begins by calling us together – reaching out and creating a circle. We hear long chords, deep breaths as the planet comes to life. After these sinuous eruptions and rumblings of the earth, the euphonium intones the opening line from Haydn’s oratorio The Creation: “In the beginning God created the Heaven and the earth.”

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Movement 2 introduces an atmosphere of self-reflection, looking inward, finding one’s place in the world. As we grow and build relationships, our circle widens to include family, friends, neighbors, community, and beyond. The music becomes more complex and rhythmic, with interweaving melodic fragments representing the complexities and joys of family life. One can hear the “nyah-nyah” motive often heard in children’s games.

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A solo flute leads directly into movements 3, music that entreats us to further expand our circle by embracing differences. All humans are 99.9 percent identical in our genetic makeup – we are all connected. The music incorporates the words of poet William Palmer, who urges us to “Look in the eyes of people you don’t know. There is always a spark, somewhere. It takes grace to see.”

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