Orchestra

1. Sailing Under the Stars (5:00) | Purchase Full Score | Purchase Parts
               Instrumentation:2+1,2+1,2+1,A.Sax,2+1/-4,flg.,3,1/Timp.,Harp/Strings
2. Seal Gazing (10:56) | Purchase Full Score | Purchase Parts
               Instrumentation:2,2,2+1,A.Sax,2/4,flg.3(ATB),1/2 Perc.,Piano,3 Narrators,Strings
3. The Flying Lesson (6:07) | Purchase Full Score | Purchase Parts
               Instrumentation:2+1,2+1,1+2,A.B.Sax,2/2,2,3,0/2 Perc.,Piano,Narrators,Strings
4. ‘thicka Fog’ (Tidal Pool) (8:36) | Purchase Full Score | Purchase Parts
               Instrumentation:2,2,2,2/2,0,0,0/Harp,Vla.,Cello,Bs.
5. Seabreeze (Voice and Orchestra) (6:23) | Purchase Full Score | Purchase Parts
               Instrumentation:2,2,2,2/2,0,0,0,/Harp,Vla.,Cello,Bs.
6. Squall (5:35) | Purchase Full Score | Purchase Parts 
               Instrumentation:2+1,2+1,2+1,2+1/3,3,3,1/4 Perc.,Harp,Piano,Strings

Notes on “The Spin Skater” (Becoming One) the real life tale of a boy who.  .  .  .  .  .     

.  .  . discovered his dream at a very early age; to become a World Champion Olympic figure skater.

Beside the road in front of his rural home there was a pond.  He would rise at 4:30 AM on winter mornings and head for the pond; practicing loops, axels, salchows, double triple axels, and especially loving spinning. This dedicated routine attracted the attention of a local children’s story writer, Linda Godfrey. She was inspired to write a book, “The Spin Skater of Pin Point Pond”, extolling his extraordinary commitment and ability.  

By the age of fourteen he had made remarkable accomplishments; it was at that age he was diagnosed with an incurable heart disease, cardiomyopathy.  In spite of all of the medical efforts, his heart was ever larger, with the inevitable weight gain and gradual loss of energy. The only hope for a normal life would be a heart transplant. During these dark days and years of waiting he was ridiculed and bullied by schoolmates for his dream, for his unstoppable weight gain, for his love of Rachmaninoff,  and because he didn’t fit in with the macho bravado of the most vocal of the student body.

Yet he continued to skate, practicing jump techniques on dry land in the off season, and on days when he was unable to get to a rink.  As his body failed the “Spin Skater” grew ever more dependent upon his beautiful spirit.

Along with his love of the graceful movements of skating, the beauty of music follows him from birth, through early years, and the awakening of his dream.

Then terrible news from the Doctor resulting in deep depression and emotional pain.  Gradually he transformed depression through the ‘other’ heart, the Heart of the Spirit, fighting away the depression as he continued toward his dream; but at an ever slower pace.

Gradually his inescapable destiny intruded more and more. Then came the Transplant team’s message, he would not be receiving a transplant.

The last part of the music finds the “Spin Skater” singing his inner self of beauty and love. Death is defeated once; he goes back to skating, then again, and again he skates, but with death ever nearer. Now as the Skater lies in a hospital bed he skates in mime with his hands. But death will not be denied. Through the dark clouds of his parting comes the Skater’s voice of his triumphant spirit – a gift to others.

1. Here and Beyond (4:15) | Purchase full score | Purchase Part
2. Storm Etude (5:51) | Purchase full Score | Purchase Part
3. Sunlight & Shadow (8:12) | Purchase full Score | Purchase Part

1. Sunday Promenade (6:15) | Purchase Full Score | Purchase Parts
2. Sister I, Catherine (7:10) | Purchase Full Score | Purchase Parts
3. Spiraling with Angels (4:12) | Purchase Full Score
4. Parnell Interlude (1:04) | Purchase Full Score
5. Sister II, Rosamunde (7:10) | Purchase Full Score
6. Youth & Religion (4:00) | Purchase Full Score
7. Cotillion (6:10) | Purchase Full Score
8. Garden Party (6:12) | Purchase Full Score
9. Finale (14:24) | Purchase Full Score | Purchase Parts