Program Notes

for jim was composed in loving memory of my grandfather James William Nagel (1942-2024). He peacefully passed away in the comfort of his home in League City, Texas this past September. When I came home for the service, my aunt Joy, his primary caretaker and faithful daughter, gifted me a very small set of garden wind chimes. She told me that the night Papa passed, the patio wind chimes sang all night long. The gift serves as a small memorial to him, so that every time they ring, I am reminded of his spirit. In my piece, the wind chimes are rung every minute for four minutes, providing a framework through which I explore different scenes of my grandfather. Some memories I recalled while composing this piece include watching Astros games from home (wherein Papa instructed the players to “throw strikes!”), listening to him sing his heart out despite his tone deafness in church, his laugh when showed him my purse full of cheerios when I was a toddler, and walking along the Seawall together in Galveston. I have dedicated this piece to my mother, Jill, and my aunt, Joy, in hopes that listening to this piece will provide them another way to feel like their dad is still with them.