I found it difficult to name this work; I didn’t know what it was “supposed” to be about. It starts with a roaring fanfare, giving way to the main melodies, restated many times, and eventually arrives again at the opening fanfare. The whole piece feels glorious and complete, taking you on an adventure. I was tempted to call it that, but it didn’t sit well with me. Yes, it’s an adventure, but not so much in the traditional sense of a hero’s struggle against evil. As I write this, I’m back home after finishing my second year at Chapman University. It was an enormous step up from my first-year experience, with many ups and downs. I learned so much, academically and musically, and also personally and emotionally. This piece is about happiness and hardship, celebrating the victories and wallowing in the losses, the times of delight, and the times when you’re just trying to survive the day because you know the ones down the road will get better.

From Thomas’s Program Note