Slow Down, Stop, Breathe, Keep Going

2021

Solo Organ

Approx. 4-5 minutes in duration (not including breaks)

Commissioned by the University Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Slow Down, Stop, Breathe, Keep Going is a short organ solo broken up into two main parts depicting the following scene:

The first opens on a performer who is playing a hectic musical line, involving all of their limbs at once… and they aren’t doing a great job of it. So, the performer decided that that they need to pause and collect themselves before moving on. However, much like a car that must apple the brake in order to come to a complete stop, the performer must gradually lose all of their momentum before they can finally take a pause.

What follows is a break in the solo. This can be for any duration of time and the soloist may do whatever they need to compose themselves: play something else, leave, stretch, anything that they may need in order to have sufficient pause.

After time has passed, the soloist then works their way back up to an energy filled performance that while still involving a large amount of movement is more controlled and paced than before. They must still be careful not to get too carried away or the opening hecticness will take over again.

“Never underestimate the value of taking a short break when you need it.”