Life is like glass
So easily shattered
And once broken
Beyond repair.
-J. Patrick Cummings

“Glass Broken Beyond Repair” was written my senior year for an Independent Study in Composition. In April 1985, the College of Charleston String Orchestra premiered “Glass” during a noonday concert on the pavilion in front of the Simons Center of the Arts. The performance ended with a “fly-over” compliments of Delta. It was choreographed beautifully. That morning the air traffic was especially heavy making any outdoor performance risky at best. I really think the director Randal Thomas got tiered of waiting for the jets to stop racing overhead and decided “now or never” and began the piece during a brief lull. Thankfully the music commanded the air to the last bar.

The Independent Study was a great learning experience. Prior to writing any music, a proposal had to be written outlining the scope of the composition; the concept was then “sold” to the Orchestra Director in order to secure the orchestra (thankfully my reputation preceded me due to the writing I had done on No. One for Two Violins the previous season). The proposal was then submitted to the Dean of Music for approval. Once accepted, then the composing could begin. “Glass Broken Beyond Repair took seven months to write, rewrite, orchestrate, copy and make adjustments. It was a long and arduous task and gave me great appreciation for the work of any composer.

The concept for the music came from an untitled poem by Patrick Cummings. The first section, “Glass” represents life. It’s melody is lyrical and moving at times and contemplative and sad at other times. “Broken” begins disjointed and dissonant with a theme that is agitated. The final section “Beyond Repair” is just that – the glass shattering on the floor.