A close friend once shared with me the obscurities they escape to when feeling lost in the world. To paraphrase: “When I would get sad, I would want to be alone. I always looked into the sky at night and would see the Moon. Then, I would try to find Mars.” In the context of this quote, the person was in an unhealthy relationship and would find these things, which may seem insignificant, to be quite comforting. But it was the escape that helped, and that’s what I dedicate this piece to: the small things one may do which bring them, even if it’s temporary, happiness. This could be trying to find Mars, looking at street lamps at night, listening to rain, or taking a drive. But to be realistic, these small things won’t solve every problem; they only make them more bearable. So, in the music, there is a moment when you do “find Mars,” but that moment is quickly overcome with the same anxieties that preceded it. This leads to the piece ending the same way it began, implying that until something changes, these little moments of happiness will suffice.

 

Reading session by Kim-Tollefson Piano Duo. UNCG, Tew Recital Hall.

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Contact for score and parts.