I'm not exactly sure when I got the idea to set my grandfather's poetry to music, but as soon as I started reading it I knew it had to be done, one way or another. To read beautiful poetry and be moved by it is one thing. To have an intense personal connection to both the writer and the subject of the poetry is quite another entirely. The first day that I had gone up to his house and taken pictures of the pages of a book he had had made of original pictures of a lifetime worth of written feelings and thoughts, I couldn't stop scrolling through each poem on my way home, trying to place myself into his position and experience all those same feelings and thoughts from so many years ago. At first I was very concerned that I would never be able to do such a project justice, that it should have been put into the hands of a much more seasoned composer than myself. But as soon as I got home, blind inspiration struck me in a sudden flash. I went to the piano and banged out what would become the opening chords of "Untold Bliss" with fervor. From there, all my fears of failing the task at hand abated. I knew exactly what I was doing.
"A Gentle Loving Kind" is the musical story of two lives intertwined in a very imperfect yet beautiful harmony. After all, it's the most imperfect songs that stay with us the longest. A common theme woven into each poem is the imperfection of the relationship, driven by numerous uncontrollable factors: his own shortcomings, which he boldly acknowledges and accepts ("I know this makes it very hard to share a life with me, so I will change as best I can to whom I ought to be"); the pressure exerted upon the pair by the large and difficult-to-navigate world ("The forces from without are such that faces may be strained, and colored covers cease to stay as once we had arranged"); the challenges of growing older and having children ("There never was a time when I could handle my own affairs. You see I'll always need assistance, a hand that truly cares"); and sometimes just the natural stress and heartbreak that comes with passion and romance ("The days have not always been kind, we've had a spat or two"). Yet through it all their love remained constant and strong, guiding each other through the toughest of times and nurturing and loving countless other souls along the way; not the least of which are their children and grandchildren, the ranks of which I am truly proud to belong to. There's something so comforting and heartwarming in the sweetness and grace of their shared affection, something that makes you believe that true love is possible for anyone. As Bud so eloquently wrote it, "Everything is beautiful if to it you belong." Maybe through love, charity, service, friendship, faith, education, music, arts, all these wonderful crazy aspects of life that seem to have been implanted, we're all just finding our own individual unique ways to belong so that the whole world can seem a lot more beautiful. And in that winding and mysterious journey, we find a long-lasting and deep-rooted sense of purpose as we learn to trust, respect, and cherish the ones we love the most. "The answer not clear if our job has been done, unless the sole purpose was to remain one."
I would like to thank so many people for making this project possible. Thank you to the truly awesome Mr. Kurt Ebsary, who played such a huge part in bringing the album to fruition not just through his immense talent and skill in the studio, but also his kindness and spirit. Thank you to all my largest musical influences who have shaped the way I write and perform music and left an indelible mark of growth on my life. Thank you to all my friends and teachers for always inspiring to be unapologetically myself. Thank you to my amazing family for all their unending support and guidance, and for creating so many beautiful memories that I will hold on to forever: Uncle Dave, Aunt Kelly, Aunt Danielle, Paige, Connor, Sam, Livy, Casey, Allie, Aunt Dana, Uncle John, Jack, Granny D, Papa Harvey, and lots more. Thank you especially to Dad, Mom, and Noah. You guys are just the best, and there isn't much more to say about it than that. Thank you to Bud ("Papa") for writing such incredible poetry, and thank you to Bud and Rae for sharing time with us all.
This album is available as a pay-what-you-want download on Bandcamp. You can get the album for free in high quality by entering 0 as your price. However, if you do choose to buy the album, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to local charities that meant a lot to Bud and Rae, and the remainder will go toward my college studies at the Crane School of Music. Any and all purchases are massively appreciated! Thank you, dear listener, and please enjoy!