Each Life Converges
Wind OrchestraEach Life Converges was written to celebrate the retirement of my dear friend Terry Austin.
Writing a piece to celebrate someone you know so well is such an honour – and as I reflected on his wonderful career as a musician, teacher, and administrator I couldn’t help but think of the lives that are richer because of Terry Austin. Whether that is students who have gone on to become teachers and inspired their own generations of musicians (who will no doubt go on to inspire further generations), or people who have got to know him through music and maybe taken other paths through life, but are forever enriched by all he gave and continues to give.
Just as Terry inspired others, he was himself inspired and shaped by his mentors, colleagues, and – perhaps most importantly – friends. In Each Life Converges I try to show this through an initial simple melody from which, on each repetition, new countermelodies and musical lines grow, always enriching the main melody.
No words about Terry would ever be complete without mentioning his dearly missed friend, Dennis Zeisler – someone who, like Terry, enriched the lives of all those who were fortunate enough to encounter him. Each Life Converges is written in memory of Dennis and dedicated to my friends Terry and his wife Tracia on the occasion of Terry’s retirement.
Each Life Converges was commissioned by Tiffany Hitz and Matthew McCutchen, and was premiered by the Virginia Commonwealth University Alumni Band, conducted by Duane Coston, June 11 2022.
Peter Meechan 2022