Composer Notes:

I want to begin by saying that I struggle to write up-tempo music. As a composer, I tend to lean toward and connect to slow and emotional pieces. I have always been someone who strives to convey emotional complexity, therefore writing an up-tempo piece had to be purposeful and meaningful.

The inspiration for this score comes from the first time I was able to hear my son's heartbeat during an ultrasound. It was a magical and exciting moment that I will never forget; however, leading up to that specific moment there was an element of tension. Six months prior to hearing my son's heartbeat, my wife and I found ourselves in a very different situation with the outcome of an ultrasound. We arrived at the hospital excited to meet our child, only to discover we had silently miscarried. I had never felt so deflated and aimless in one sudden moment. It was as if I was a boat, drifting, with no direction in my life.

Fast forward to this ultrasound with our soon-to-be son. You can imagine the excitement and fear we both felt as the doctor prepared to perform the ultrasound. Hearing the heartbeat of our son was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard! It brought me to tears and was such a hopeful relief.

The excitement and tension of that specific moment are what I sought to capture in this composition.