What could “Meanwhile” be about? NEW Piece!

Do you remember when I talked about retroactive inspiration? It’s happening more and more to me these days where I write a piece and I’m not quite sure what it’s about initially. I compose it slowly, wrestle with it frequently, and then even when it’s finished, I’m not always sure what it’s about. I just know I love it and it connects with me.

Well, that’s happening more and more and this new piece Meanwhile (as well as one I’m really excited about but still working on) unfolded in that backwards kind of way.

Meanwhile’s story

I wrote the piece last year and even took it to my brilliant composition professor from college (last year I decided I needed to sharpen my saw on composing, so I went back for a few lessons) for his input. He made a few small suggestions but it sat for about 9 months with little edits happening now and again.

Then I finished it, loved it, but still didn’t have a title. So I sat with our amazing artist and we wrestled with the name for about an hour. Finally, in response to yet another rejected title, I just said the word “meanwhile…” and we looked at each other and knew immediately that was the title! I wasn’t sure why it was right, but we just knew it was.

Then, as I was working on getting it ready to publish, it dawned on me. It’s about something that has been on my mind now for quite a while so it makes sense that even though I didn’t know what the inspiration ways, I was still inspired. I’m often overwhelmed in my life with all of the beautiful blessings that surround me, but that I don’t notice. Of course, when I notice them, that’s when it hits me how many there are…the sky that gets beautifully painted every day, the sound of my children laughing, the power of music to move us, the way the dew sits on the morning grass, the music of the wind in the trees, and so much more. It happens whether we notice it or not. It blesses us even when we don’t acknowledge it.

And that’s what Meanwhile is all about.

We’re busy with our lives, but meanwhile…the blessings come.

What other piece had retroactive inspiration?

The first time I became aware that “retroactive inspiration” was a thing (for me at least) was when I composed A Sacred Space. We used the music for our ComposeCreate video that talks about the importance of connecting with children. But I didn’t know what the piece was about until after I wrote it. You can watch that video here.

What does Meanwhile sound like?