This piece was written as a part of the 2014 Charlotte New Music Festival in Charlotte, North Carolina. The work was assigned as a “speedwriting” exercise for a prescribed instrumentation. The motivation for the piece is the above quote. The idea of facing a challenge, and rather than attacking the problem right away, you take a step back to reflect and decide upon the best course of action. This is often full of strife and internal conflict, and in the end, you come out stronger and with more confidence in making a better choice and a better life. The piece is dedicated to a very dear friend who shared the quote with me. She has often faced challenges in life, but has never quit or given up, rather, she keeps trying again the next day.
