Lost and Found - EH/BSN/PN

Lost and Found 

for English horn, bassoon, and piano

by Alyssa Morris

ABOUT THE MUSIC

Lost and Found tells the story of a person’s voyage out to sea, and their return home. Day breaks with serenity on the harbor as a person departs for an adventure at sea. The whipping wind and undulating waves fill the person with optimism and energy. With not a care in mind, the person lets the boat carry them wherever the wind dictates.

Upon looking around and realizing they do not know this place that the wind and waves took them, the person feels frightened, regretful, and alone. Lost. The waves grow more tempestuous as a storm approaches. As the thunder booms and lightening crashes, the person cries out to their Father in heaven for help to find their way.

As an answer to the person’s prayer, the storm subsides and the sun begins to shine through the clouds, illuminating the world around and enlightening the person. They can see now, and they have found the way to get back home. The last movement is a paraphrase of “Amazing Grace,” and the title of this work comes from the words of this hymn:

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found, Was blind, but now I see.

The opening sunrise motive at the beginning of the first movement and at the beginning and end of the third movement is a deconstruction of the Navy hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to Save.” It was Kathy deGruchy’s wonderful idea to include the hymn in this seafaring parable. I wish to express gratitude to the admirable men and women in the armed forces who make great sacrifices for this country.

This work was commissioned by Glenn Harman, pianist, for performance with the Burning River Winds: Kathy deGruchy, English horn, and John deGruchy, bassoon.

ABOUT THE COMPOSER:

Alyssa Morris has delighted audiences around the world with her “exceptional” and “soulful” musicianship (Fanfare Magazine). Alyssa serves as Assistant Professor of Oboe at Kansas State University and as the principal oboist of the Topeka Symphony Orchestra and Wichita Grand Opera.  She has appeared as a soloist in venues throughout the United States, Scandinavia, the British Isles, and Western Europe.  Alyssa has previously held the position of Associate Principal Oboe in the Richmond (IN) Symphony Orchestra, and second oboe in the Utah Wind Symphony.  Her recent CD album release via MSR Classics, “A Higher Place,” has been hailed by American Record Guide as “gorgeous and thoughtful” with “stunning” performances, “unmistakable…virtuosity” and “deft emotional timing.” 

Regarding her equally expansive work as a composer, the American Record Guide writes that Dr. Morris’s music “has charm, piquancy, verve, and most importantly, substance.” Her chamber music is performed extensively around the world, and has been presented at the national and international conventions of IDRS, ICA, NFA, and SCI.  Dr. Morris is an International Barlow Composition Commission Award Winner.  She has additionally been commissioned to write music for the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra, the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, the U.S. Air Force Woodwind Quintet, and Carolyn Hove (principal English horn of the Los Angeles Philharmonic) to name a few. Dr. Morris’s music has been recorded on the Equilibrium, Centaur, and MSR Classics labels.

Dr. Morris earned her BM and MM degrees at Brigham Young University, where she studied with Dr. Geralyn Giovannetti. She earned her DMA at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she studied with Dr. Mark Ostoich. 

For more information, please visit the composer's website at: http://www.alyssamorrismusic.com/