Xi Gamma Chapter Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Musicale 2008 Part 3 - Song for December

A world premiere composition by Columbus State undergrad, horn player, and PMA Brother William May

Notes:
Song for December - William May (b. 1988)
Ashleigh Smith - Voice
Samuel Wood - Violin
Marucs Phillips - Oboe
Romaine Anderson - Piano

I remember. Like the sound of a sweet lullaby
it pulls my heart strings, and it lifts my soul.
I rememberlast December
my love, here with menow, no more.

I remember. The life we shared, it was true, indeed.
A love so tender, it goes beyond compare
I remembera timeless ember
my sweet December melody

I initially began working on this piece while attending a summer music program in 2008. Composers very seldom write music without having first been inspired to write about something, but I must admit I had no idea where my inspiration had come from to write it. I sort of just put the pen to the paper and began writingand then it was finished. It was not until quite recently that I finally realized that the person who was at the forefront of my mind at the time was actually the person who inspired me to write this piece: my grandmother.

It was during the spring of 2005 when she lost her husband and came from Jamaica to live with me and my family. Since that time, life for her has never been the same. It saddens me to try and imagine what it must feel like, for her to have to live without her spouse after so many years of peaceful love and marriage. I can even remember times when I would look and see her sitting in her bedroomjust looking out of her windowat nothing in particular, perhaps reminiscingperhaps silently mourningperhaps, simply in quiet reflection.
In any case, she was my inspiration in writing the text for this piece. I dedicate this Song for December to her. --William May

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Music

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• William May