J.F.K. Found
Year
2024
Length
16'00
Category
Orchestra
Orchestration
Flute, Oboe (doubling EH), Bb Clarinet, Bassoon, 2 Horns, Trumpet, Harp, Strings
Commission
Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra
Matthew Scinto, Music Director
Premiere
April 28, 2024
Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra
Program Note
Asked to commemorate President John F. Kennedy for a collaboration between the Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra and the John F. Kennedy Museum in Hyannis, I immediately said yes. American hero, civil rights icon, and one of the most popular American presidents of all time!
The concert was to be entitled “J.F.K. Remembered,” but as I began reflecting, I realized I couldn’t honestly claim to remember anything about a man who was horrifically assassinated nearly 20 years before I was born.The history I did know was superficial, at best. And so, I began to explore this celebrated man. At first, I became a little unsure. Not everything about J.F.K. holds up to today’s values. For one thing, he was widely known to be somewhat of a womanizer. And his early stances on civil rights were a mixed bag, sometimes falling to the whims of political interest. However, as I learned more and began to see a fuller picture, I found a public servant driven by his deep desire to make our world a better place. He held a moral clarity on democracy—versus tyranny—that is deeply needed in today’s world. He understood that freedom requires sacrifice, crystalized in his iconic call to action. And he worked to learn from his mistakes, continually striving to be a better, more unifying leader. In my home state of Massachusetts, J.F.K. held deep ties to Cape Cod, a place where he found restorative peace. I too have walked these dunes, visiting this ethereal coastline nearly my entire life. President Kennedy created Cape Cod National Seashore, ensuring this beautiful and ecologically important habitat would remain for future generations to enjoy. All these years later, it is because of him that I can return again and again, seeking solace and inspiration. And he did, finally, lay the groundwork for the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which—passed shortly after his death--provided important legal protections to advance equality. Yes, I do not remember J.F.K. But his life’s work echoes through today’s world. For generation of Americans, he represented hope for what could be. In this, I find light.Performance History
- April 28, 2024: Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Harwich Port, MA
