Before we left for the PCT journey I had begun on a project to raise funds for Alzheimer’s that I am calling American Discovery. This is to be a symphonic storytelling of our American Discovery Trail journey, accompanied by photos for recorded and performed slideshows. There were to be four movements corresponding to different types of discovery on our journey, and with any long distance journey: beautiful landscapes, kindness and community, culture and self-discovery. The plan was to have all the movements conceptualized by the end of the PCT.
That did not happen, mainly because a fifth type of discovery occurred to me during the PCT, the joy of life. I will apply slides from the American Discovery Trail journey to this movement, but in reality I will always associate it mainly with the PCT, where it alone was both founded and completely conceptualized,
Beyond the beautiful landscapes one observes, immersion into nature brings a realization for how life itself responds to that beauty. How can one listen to birdsong without absorbing an expression of joy? Are humans alone moved by the shimmer of light on water, or the changing colorful expressions of plants throughout the year? Do not other creatures feel the energy and freshness of a breeze? These are some of the thoughts that propel the movement I’m calling “Joy of Living, Joy of Life.” If Cindy and I differ in our feelings on this, it is only because she is even more absorbent and reflective of the joy of nature that surrounds us.
In this movement I borrow existing themes, namely the Gregorian chant Adoro Te and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy. The movement starts with the former and transitions towards the latter. Adoro Te is really an expression of deep faith, not an expression of natural joy per second. However, I always associate Adoro Te with Rhonda Larson’s performance on the flute, a performance that leads one to the joy of nature. Most of the American Discovery project is instrumental, but I created lyrics for this (see below).
The movement presents an ironic twist for me. The movement is intended to convey joy, but since the PCT journey was the birthplace for this movement alone, I’m afraid I always will associate the bittersweet experience of my last long distance journey with Cindy.
I will be putting these movements up on the Humanity Hiker YouTube channel as they are set to slides. This is for the purpose of other musicians to get involved and submit there own interpretations and counter melodies to be blended into the eventual symphony. Kim Scharnberg, an accomplished orchestrator and composer, serves as sort of my “graduate thesis adviser” on this. Here are the lyrics for “Joy of Living, Joy of Life,” set to Adoro Te.
“Joy of living, joy of life, everywhere there’s joy.
Feel the giving of the light, celebrate the joy.
All around you life embraces water, sun and air.
Join the chorus of Thanksgiving, spread joy everywhere.”
