Flight

For SATB Choir

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Program Notes

Flight was written in memory of my grandfather, Papa, who passed away in 2012 after a long battle with cancer. The work explores the moments immediately following death, imagining a soul freed from its physical limitations, leaving behind pain and suffering, and beginning its final journey toward whatever place it calls home.

The music follows this journey from uncertainty and darkness toward light, peace, and acceptance. Through expressive harmonies, layered vocal textures, and an emotional climax, the piece depicts the sensation of leaving the physical world behind and discovering what lies beyond it. The final moments offer a sense of resolution as the journey comes to an end and the soul finally arrives home.

Although Flight began as a tribute to my grandfather, it gradually developed a second, deeply personal meaning. Originally conceived in 2012, the composition remained unfinished for more than a decade as I struggled with writer’s block and gradually drifted away from composing. Returning to the work in 2026 became an important part of rediscovering my love of music.

Ultimately, Flight tells two stories of finding home: one of a soul finally at peace, and another of a composer finding his way back to where he belongs.

To learn more about the inspiration, history, and creative journey behind Flight, read The Story Behind Flight.

Performance Notes

Difficulty & Ensemble Considerations

Flight is written for advanced SATB a cappella choir and is best suited for ensembles comfortable with independent vocal lines, extended divisi, and expressive harmonic writing. The piece expands to as many as eleven individual vocal parts, requiring careful attention to balance, intonation, and ensemble cohesion.

While the technical demands are significant, the greatest challenge lies in maintaining musical sensitivity throughout the work. Singers should approach the sustained passages with careful breath support, unified vowels, and an awareness of how their individual lines contribute to the overall harmonic texture.

Special attention should be given to the treatment of diphthongs throughout the piece. Singers should sustain the primary vowel for the majority of each note’s duration, allowing the secondary vowel and final consonants to arrive together. This is especially important during sustained harmonies and moments of heightened expression, where precise vowel placement contributes to both the musical effect and the clarity of the text.

Musical Character

Flight should be approached as a continuous emotional journey, with particular attention to the gradual transformation from darkness to light.

The opening should feel somber, introspective, and melancholy, reflecting the uncertainty and vulnerability of a soul beginning its final journey. As the piece progresses, the musical character should gradually become warmer and more hopeful. This transformation should unfold naturally through subtle changes in tone color, dynamics, phrasing, and emotional intensity, rather than through abrupt contrasts.

The climactic passage, centered around the words “final flight,” represents the emotional release of the work. It should feel expansive and liberating, with a sense of freedom and arrival rather than simply an increase in volume.

Following this climax, the music should settle into a more peaceful and reflective character. The final passages should convey acceptance, comfort, and resolution, allowing the closing words, “The night has brought me home,” to feel like the natural conclusion of the journey.

Throughout the piece, performers should prioritize expressive phrasing, clear diction, and the relationship between text and harmony. Particular care should be taken with diphthongs and consonant releases so that the words remain intelligible without interrupting the musical line. The goal is to allow the music and text to tell the story together, guiding the listener from sorrow and uncertainty toward light, peace, and ultimately, home.

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