When Did We Forget?

"When Did We Forget" is an introspective and contemplative work for trombone ensemble that explores themes of loss, change, and growth. The piece poses a poignant question: When did we forget not to repeat the mistakes and tragedies that once shaped our past? The composition begins with a somber, reflective opening, gradually unfolding with individual voices rising above the melody. Through a series of shifting textures, the music ebbs and flows, mirroring the complex emotions tied to the notion of forgetting — of losing sight of lessons learned from history that once seemed inexorable. As the piece progresses, there is a sense of reconciliation: the music begins to suggest the possibility of reclaiming those lessons by introducing a groove with a single uplifting voice that builds and is joined by many — evoking a subtle but hopeful optimism. Ultimately, the piece serves as a call to remember the importance of learning from the past to prevent the recurrence of pain and conflict. This composition is a tribute to the power of music as both a mirror of society and a potential catalyst for reflection and change, capturing the complexity of the human experience and the timeless quest to ensure history does not repeat itself.