It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me
for Wind Quintet
Program Notes
It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me is a programmatic composition with the story as follows:
A pirate lies on his deathbed, slowly dying from scurvy as he slips in and out of consciousness from the pain and suffering from the swelling in his legs. As his time left ticks slowly down, he starts to reflect on all his rewarding adventures. He remembers his wife and how they committed many crimes together, starting bar fights, getting chased by the authorities, and gambling other people's possessions away. A surge of pain brings him back to reality, where he remembers that his wife is no longer with him. With many of the things he cared for now gone or dead, he waits for his time to come to an end. He remembers the time that he and his crew went against the royal armada, where they fought a glorious battle and came out victorious. He returned to the captain's quarters where he had told his wife to wait for him until the battle was over. He opened the door, and saw his wife on the floor, dead from a gunshot wound from the crossfire. One last surge of pain brings him back to reality. Losing strength by the second, he only has a few minutes left. He said, “I wouldn’t have changed anything about it. It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me”. He takes his final breaths, grinning as his life leaves his body, leaving him to rest.
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Performances
Flute/Piccolo: Mackenzie Wilson, Oboe: Catherine Walker, Bb Clarinet: Callie Christiansen, French Horn: Adam Stillwagon, Bassoon: Mia Rodriguez | Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA | November 19th, 2021
Flute/Piccolo: Selia Myers, Oboe: Catherine Walker, Bb Clarinet: Evan Chu, French Horn: Jerrick Cendejas, Bassoon: Jake Salter | University of the South, Sewanee, TN | July 16th, 2022 | Sewanee Summer Music Festival