You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Program Notes<br />
<strong>Almost</strong> <strong>Alice</strong> was inspired by a quote from Tim Burton’s <strong>Alice</strong> in Wonderland. I set the text to a<br />
melody in dialogue between first and second violins in measures 142-159. The dialogue reads:<br />
Absolem (Caterpillar): Who are you?<br />
<strong>Alice</strong>: I thought we'd settled this. I'm <strong>Alice</strong>, not that one.<br />
Absolem: How do you know?<br />
<strong>Alice</strong>: You said so yourself.<br />
Absolem: I said you were not hardly <strong>Alice</strong>. But you're much more her now. In fact, you're almost<br />
<strong>Alice</strong>.<br />
<strong>Alice</strong>: Even so, I couldn't slay the dragon if my life depended on it.<br />
Absolem: It will.<br />
The quote reminded me that we all feel lost sometimes, but we may be more capable than we<br />
realize. This especially applies to young people who are struggling to know who they are or<br />
where they are going. Our experiences throughout life, our successes and failures, are all<br />
attempts at trying to find ourselves, reach our goals and dreams, and give meaning to our lives.<br />
Being “<strong>Almost</strong> <strong>Alice</strong>” means you are close to your full potential. It takes time, perseverance, and<br />
sometimes a change in perspective to recognize that you are <strong>Almost</strong> <strong>Alice</strong> and then to actually<br />
become the true <strong>Alice</strong>.<br />
<strong>Almost</strong> <strong>Alice</strong> was commissioned in 2018 through a Consortium with Ohlendorf Honor Orchestra,<br />
Arizona State University Philharmonia, California School of the Arts-San Gabriel Valley, Four<br />
Seasons Youth Orchestra, and the University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse. It is scored for chamber<br />
orchestra, and the duration is approximately 4:45.