The Bluer The Sky

treble choir, vibraphone 

2025

Premiere Performance: November 1, 2025 by the WPI Alden Voices under the direction of Joshua Rohde, and Peter Struyk

About the Piece

The Bluer the Sky sets excerpts of a text written by Tracy Jaskot, on the 10th anniversary of her son Brayden’s stillbirth. I was inspired by the imagery in the text, and the idea that someone or something can be palpably present even if not physically present for a long period of time. It is my hope that the musical setting of these moving words might be uplifting to anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one.

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Text:

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the bluer the sky

the brighter the sun

the gentler the breeze

the fluffier the clouds

the greener the trees

the softer the grass

the more fragrant the air

the happier the birds sound

the closer I feel to you

each day in May

but especially the ones

like these

when I think…

well it couldn’t possibly be

more beautiful than this

these are the days

I feel even closer to you

because they are just like the day

when I started with you

and ended by myself

the day you were born into Heaven

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