Solace: A Lyric Concerto

Shemon, Zachary; University of Missouri Symphonic Wind Ensemble; Davis, Steven D.

Virtuoso alto saxophonist and PRISM Quartet member Zachary Shemon is joined by the Conservatory Wind Symphony of the University of Missouri—Kansas City under Steven D. Davis for “Solace: A Lyric Concerto” by Houston-based composer Joel Love. The work is inspired by David Whyte’s book, “Consolations: The Solace, Nourishment, and Underlying Meaning in Words.” The composer notes, “Whyte’s work meditates on words themselves, often revealing connections between difficult situations and their unexpectedly positive outcomes. Similarly, each of ‘Solace’s’ five movements meditates on a mood and is inspired by either a selection of text or title word from the book,” that reflects a particular state of being: Joy, Besieged, Gratitude, Hiding, and Work.