Hiraeth

"Hiraeth" is a Welsh word with no direct English translation, but the meaning is a mix of longing and nostalgia, especially for one's homeland. Whether the separation is recent or long ago, an ancestral homeland or the town one grew up in, there can be a powerful feeling of longing for these places that is universal. As the piece was being composed, the pandemic hit - and life halted in so many ways. The piece was put away for several months, and when work started anew, the original idea seemed to meld perfectly with what we were all feeling - a longing and nostalgia for our lives before the pandemic - but also hopefulness for what life can be like again as we move forward.