Evan J. Nelson, baritone | Martin Mendez, percussion

April 18, 2023

Diastole Scholars’ Center, Kansas City, MO

The journey towards our dreams is never easy. For the ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan, it was about finding the truth of life. Qu Yuan’s famous line: "The road is faraway and endless, I shall search high and low nonetheless" (路漫漫其修远兮，吾将上下而求索) has been great source of encouragement for those who are facing difficulties along their way to their dreams. We keep pursuing, going further and further, as far as we can. 

This composition was inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem Imitation, a work that contemplates the fleeting and elusive nature of artistic expression. Poe’s musings on the interplay between creation and imitation served as a springboard for exploring the connection between voice and piano in this piece. The poem delves into the tension between the artist’s yearning for originality and the inevitable influence of the past, a theme that resonates deeply with the process of composing music.

Brax Darrow, tenor | Jialin Liu, piano

November 25, 2019

Swarthout Recital Hall, Lawrence, KS