About theWork...

 

A reflective piece for solo piano was composed nearly 35 years ago in memory of Lance Hardgrave (1969-1984), a young high school student from the church we both attended. Lance looked to me for mentoring and friendship. Lance liked to play baseball and go to the movies. In 1984, one of the last movies he asked me to see with him before he and his family moved to Arkansas, was The Karate Kid.

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With my limited piano skills, I wanted to write a piece that I could personally play. And yet, within that limited technical scope, compositionally convey the sorrow and sadness of Lance's passing.