Description
Many young people fall in love with choral music during high school, and they do so because of the passion of their teachers. “Catch and Release” celebrates the inspiration that teachers pass on to their students, even though their lives intersect only briefly. Shimmering piano lines and lush harmonies make this piece a touching sendoff, perfect for graduation and a wonderful tribute to the teachers that change students’ lives.
I have known Martha Graber for a long time, and it has been such a pleasure to work with students at St. Paul Central High School several times during her tenure. This new work, “Catch and Release,” was composed in her honor. I spent a lot of time thinking about what it means to be a high school choral teacher. Many young people fall in love with choral music during high school, and they do so because of the passion of their teachers. As a conductor, Martha introduced her students to all kinds of music from a diverse group of composers. She encouraged them to compose themselves, and supported their dreams. Then these students graduate and/or move on, and the next crop of students walks in. Constant turnover. With each year, high school choral conductors have a new opportunity to create lifelong musicians. This cycle reminded me of my brother-in-law, John, who is a catch and release fisherman. His instagram feed is full of pictures of himself holding up big beautiful fish, with a huge smile on his face. Then he releases them back into the water to continue on with their lives. A short adventure for a small part of their life. I think that can be likened to high school teachers. You lure them in, expose them to the wonder that is music (or another discipline), and then you release them to go live their lives, hoping you somehow made a difference in the way they see the world. I think that many students under Martha Graber would say that she changed their world in a significant way. What could be more beautiful than that?
Jocelyn Hagen (2022)
Text
you gave me sunlight
when all I could see was darkness
you lifted me up
so I could see the beauty in the distance
a skyline built from all my longing
of what I could be
what could I be?
I was wandering
didn’t want to believe that I was lost
I was going to swim that way no matter the cost
but now the water’s so much bluer
I felt the sunlight
I broke free out of the darkness
and I saw the beauty in the distance
a skyline that seems to beckon me
a yearning to be free
do I want to be free?
yes, I want to be free
then I got hooked on your positivity
you reeled me in watched my colors change
when you held me up to the sun
my future was so much brighter
and I’ll take a part of you with me
so in some small way I’ll never leave
I feel your tempo in my heartbeat
yes I’ll take a part of you with me
so in some small way I’ll never leave
thank you for the catch and release
~ Jocelyn Hagen (2022)
About the Practice Tracks
The practice tracks are designed for the benefit of distant / isolated singing in your personal spaces, and to encourage independent learning. These audio tracks work best with earphones / headphones on. The tracks are professionally mixed so singers are ensured high quality audio recordings to support their learning!
Important licensing & purchasing terms: The purchase of this resource allows your choral organization to distribute it to your singers and staff for their own learning at any time, but not to be duplicated, edited in any way, and/or shared beyond the organization.