Physical copy of the sheet music mailed to you.

Composer: Marcus Norris

Year: 2022

Instrumentation: Cello (Solo) [Can Be Replaced By Other Soloist], Rhythm Section : Piano, Bass, Drums, and String Orchestra

Duration: 8 minutes

About the Work:

While composing “From Where I Stand” I thought a lot about perspective and the way it shapes our experiences. In life there can be recurring experiences or situations that keep coming back, or thoughts that keep coming back to us. Those memories often feel different than the actual experience at the time it occurred, even though the reality didn’t change. For example, while something is going on in real time you may be angry, but a week could be nostalgic about the entire experience.

Analogously, there are musical moments in this piece that return, but might be different or recontextualized, giving the material a different meaning. So, as you experience this piece, I invite you to close your eyes and reflect on the different memories it might remind you of from your own life, and compare how you feel now versus how you felt then.

- Marcus Norris

“From Where I Stand” was commissioned and premiered by the Niles West High School Orchestra, led by Natalie Frakes.