Khronos

Instrumentation: Solo Soprano

Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet (2), Bassoon

Alto Saxophone (2), Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone

Horn (2), Trumpet (2), Trombone (2), Euphonium, Tuba

Timpani, Drum Set, Percussion, Piano

String Bass

Duration: 20 Minutes

Premiere: June 23, 2022 at the Wichita Art Museum with the (unofficial) WSU Chamber Wind Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Timothy Shade

program noteS

The idea for “Khronos” came to Da’Kneisha and Justin during a conversation they had after meeting with Dr. Timothy Shade about commissioning a new piece. Their first thought was, “what do we want to say?” It was then they decided they would write a piece that illustrates these moments of the human experience, all through the lens of time.

The first movement, “Heart Aflutter,” is about Justin’s experience with getting butterflies while walking into a downtown restaurant and becoming both nervous and smitten with a young man serving gelato. He was so anxious that he didn’t know how to say hello. It wasn’t until after conferring with his friends, that he mustered up the courage to walk back to the gelato guy and ask him out on a date. The guy did not walk to the same beat, and disappointment fell over Justin, but at least he had those butterflies to remember him by.

“Chaos,” is all about the rat race of life. Today, we live in a capitalist society which doesn’t allow for much respite or ease, but a “buy, buy, buy,” and “hustle harder,” mentality  that keeps everyone on their feet, more literally than metaphorically it seems. The hemiola in the bass, syncopated horn and percussion, and ever changing time signature and key centers portray the every changing “algorithm” of our tech-centric world amidst a lonely soul (the flute) trying to make sense of how to fit into such a exponentially growing digital space amidst the analog world.

Next, “Carpe Diem,” is literally about seizing the day. This movement portrays time specifically as a woman. We all want a piece of her, we all want more of her, and yet she’s always out of our reach. A seductress bending us to her will.

“Nothing, but Time (Somewhere)” is a movement dedicated to their friend Renee Macdonald. Upon moving to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, she contacted Da’Kneisha and Justin about writing a piece for her to perform at her going-away recital in Wichita, Kansas. The piece illustrates the journey of cherishing your time spent with the friends you meet in life, but ultimately deciding to listen to your calling, which sometimes is geographically apart from where you may be now. Near the end, Da’Kneisha writes, “My time has come, I must move on, there’s so much more. Please know my love will linger on engraved in time.” This movement is a cyclical love letter, from Da’Kneisha and Justin to Renee, and vice versa.

“There’s so Much In-between,” is about not rushing through life. After we’ve found our calling, is there a reprogramming that needs to happen with the lifestyle we’ve grown accustomed to; especially if the existence you’ve had prior to a life-altering experience has now become stagnant, regressive, and leading to a life unfulfilled? There’s so much in-between, but we rarely take the time to see it.

The final two movements are played in tandem. The first, “Time is Ever-Fleeting,” is a movement that illustrates the life expectancy of the average American person. After 30,000 sunsets, how do we comprehend time ticking away our last moments? And when we’ve spent these seemingly countless revolutions around the sun living, what all was it for? Finally, “Ascension,” is the homegoing. In Black churches, it’s customary to use the phrase “homegoing celebration” for a person’s funeral service because it refers to the deceased “going back home” and it’s also a celebration of the soul returning to eternal glory; when time terminates. Our hope for the final movement was to embody the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant. Well done!”

Lyrics

Heart Aflutter

Can you feel it? I am shaking and I can't breathe.

Everything's still, but you're right here, right here with me. Don't come too close.

I want to love you today. Oh, let me love you 'til forever meets eternity. Our forever starts now.

I have found my one and only, and you're with me, you are mine.

Love you today 'til forever meets eternity.

Chaos

(instrumental)

Carpe Diem

Is it just an illusion, what I see in front of me

Spent so much time searching, trying to hold on to everything

But, if it's True, time spent with you

Is more important than what I hold on to

Don't leave me hanging,

Running in circles, what's the meaning?

Something tells me that there's has to be more than this.

Oh, something tells me times not gonna stop

And oh, I'm too busy running from the clock.

Oh, oh, oh.

Nothing, but Time (Somewhere)

There's a place for me out there, a place beyond the stars, out there where hopes and dreams collide.

I've cherished each moment, time spent with you, here.

Destiny calls me to my place, I've waited much too long, I know it's out there now.

Somewhere out there, my place, it waits for me.

I've prayed this day would come. No task was left undone.

I pray you hear my love with every song.

I, I'll take these memories, time spent with you, here. Time waits for no one!

My destiny, oh, it waits for me and it's out there.

I've cherished each moment, time spent with you, here.

Destiny calls me to my place, I've waited much too long, I know it's out there now.

Somewhere...

You'll always be with me, part of what made me.

Please know I'll remember all that you gave, I'll save a space for you.

You're in my heart forever intertwine. My time has come, I must move on, there's so much more.

Please know my love with linger on engraved in time.

I've cherished each moment, time spent with you, here.

Destiny calls me to my place, I've waited much too long, I know it's out there now.

Somewhere!

Somewhere, out there, my place... it waits, for me.

There's So Much In-Between

(instrumental)

Time is Ever-Fleeting

In this moment I share with Thee,

a glimpse of my reality.

I have seen 30,000 sunsets,

at this ripe age they call to me.

I've shared every rise and fall,

please know I've shared it all

Time will come to claim what's hers.

Ascension

I'm here, I see it's beautfiul

My time has come

I have learned, I have loved.

I have shared, I have given my all.

Love you today!

My forever has met eternity

I have seen thirty-thousand sunsets

Time has claimed what's hers.