Karkinos

A mythological crab was sent to sabotage Hercules as he battled the Hydra, then raised into the heavens to be the constellation Cancer by Hera who summoned it in the first place. This unwanted saboteur, this crab named Karkinos, is the symbol for this work which is an echo of the composer's father's battle with cancer. Karkinos was originally inspired by hours the composer spent with his dad during chemotherapy treatment. The waiting, the drone of the IV pumps, the somber mood of the patients and loved ones sitting with time to burn, but with the suppressed feeling of not enough time, and of time that should have been spent differently all highlighted a sense that chemotherapy exists outside of normal time. The discomfort and disorientation of having undergone chemotherapy is present, along with a theme for the stoic determination and strength of cancer patients. Finally, after cycles of chemotherapy, disorientation, and strength, true heroism emerges. Remission is achieved, however briefly. Sadly, as was the case for the composer's father, cancer comes back until the patient is overcome. The composer's father passed away December 3rd, 2017. Karkinos was written in December 2017 February 2018.