The Metropolitan Transit Authority in New York has a “Poetry in Motion” series that puts posters of poetry in subway cars. I was on the 1 train on Manhattan’s West Side one day when I saw the poem “Heaven,” by Patrick Phillips. I was immediately captured by the simple beauty of Patrick’s poem, and the mystery of the first line, “It will be the past.” I loved his vision and thought immediately that I wanted to compose music for this poem. Mystery, joy, wonder.
“Heaven” is the winner of choral composition competitions sponsored by both the Manhattan Choral Ensemble and Georgia College.
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