Arise is something I wrote in 2020, during the pandemic, in an attempt to communicate a message of hope both to the world and also to myself. It was such a devastating time in so many ways, and this piece was very cathartic for me to write. The process of creating it reassured me that I hadn’t lost everything; I could still make something beautiful and put it into the world such as the world was then. It actually gave me confidence that I and we all could arise from the confusing abyss we were all in during that period.
I love the music of Ennio Morricone, especially his score for “The Mission” and Morten Lauridsen, especially his “O Magnum Mysterium.” I wrote and produced this with their styles in mind. So far, the only thing written out for Arise is a separate standalone piano arrangement that I play from time to time. Everything in this track is realized with sampled sounds. Rob Beaton’s mastering really made the track sparkle and gave it so much more depth. Someday, I may write an actual choir arrangement and full orchestration, but for now this piece exists as it is.