Breathe now (2023)

DURATION
4 minutes

INSTRUMENTATION
solo carillon

PREMIÈRE
May 4, 2023 Kirk in the Hills Bloomfield Hills, MI, USA

"Breathe now" by Grace Ann Lee was written for the Carillonist Carson Landry, as part of the commission for the 2022-2023 GCNA Grant for Student Composer/Performer Pairs.

Program Note:

On November 10th, 2022, my grandfather passed away in Korea. My parents booked the ticket to visit him and be with my grandmother during his last few days. However, as I was in the middle of the first semester of my doctorate degree in the US, I could not visit him. It was challenging to process grief by myself; everything felt numb. One of my close friends told me I should try not to be alone, so I went into the originally scheduled carillon pre-composition workshop with Carson and just listened. As I listened to the carillon traveling through distance across the campus, I felt an enormous amount of comfort. It felt as though the carillon was telling me, Breathe now.

I dedicate this piece to Carson Landry, my dear carillonist friend, and my grandfather, who has been the inspiration behind this piece.