Composer Notes: 

Looking back at the journey of creating each of these movement, I find it interesting that my own path, in many ways, is closely relatable to the story of each poem. For example, I feel as if I had to write, “The Fly” simply by just living life to the fullest. I did not happen across the idea of, “The Fly” until this commission was proposed to me. I was looking through my book of poetry when I came across this additional poem written by William Blake. Essentially, the text compares the delicacy of a fly’s life to the life of a human. One can choose to live life in fear, or they can live life to the fullest until the end comes. I chose a bluesy medium when setting this text for a variety of reasons. First of all, each animal thus far has had a character of its own and I wanted to distinguish the Fly from the rest of the movements. Second, the genre of blues, in my opinion, captures the introspective and philosophical feel of the text without forcing the listener to see the text in an optimistic or pessimistic light.  The audience may chose to hear the composition in their own personal way. Lastly, people associate the blues with many places, I personally associate the blues with the location of a dimly lit and smoky bar. The overall dirty and tarnished feel behind this piece is meant to represent the imperfections of humanity. When the piece arrives to the scat section, the overall improvised feel is meant to portray one simply living life to the fullest until the end comes. The piece ends with the sudden swat of a fly and leaves the listener to wonder what comes after life.  

- Zachary J. Moore