Name: The Heart Does Not Easily Forget by Josiah Austin
Duration: 1 min 16 s
Description: Love once found is never forgotten. Hope, love, and longing are the themes of this composition perfectly suited for any stranded love interest.

Lawren Brianna Ware, composer
DaSean Stokes, tenor
Will Preston, piano

'Dreams' For Voice And Piano - Lawren Brianna Ware, Composer

Singers from the UW-Madison choral program, under the direction of Dr. Michael Johnson, premiered Lawren Brianna Ware's piece, Elijah Speaks in the spring of 2021.

Program Note (L. B. Ware)

Elijah McClain was a 23 year-old African-American man who died as a result of police brutality in the
summer of 2019. McClain, who was believed to be autistic and who was known to have asthma, was on his
way home when he was detained by police. Someone had called 911, reporting that he was "sketchy." The
police utilized the caroitid hold on McClain in order to handcuff him. Additionally, when the medical
responders arrived, he was given a dose of the powerful sedative, ketamine. Elijah McClain went into
cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital and died a few days later.
After hearing of this terrible incident--yet another story of a Black person's live being cut short due to
police brutality--I felt compelled to speak out through my own unique medium: composing. "Elijah Speaks"
is a work for SATB choir, violin, piano, and narrator that details the moments leading up to Elijah McClain's
death. The source for the text of the work comes from McClain's "last words" which were shared on Twitter
after the incident. Additionally, I drew inspiration from the bodycam footage of the incident. At many
instances during the piece, one can hear quotes and alterations of the first violin theme from Pachelbel's
Canon in D. I chose to quote this piece as an ode to the fact that Elijah McClain was a violinist. I am sure, that
at some point during his lifetime, he may have performed the canon. I intended "Elijah Speaks" to not only
be an "in memoriam" for Elijah McClain, but to also be a vessel that would tell his story and bring attention
to his death and the deaths of the many other African-Americans who have lost their lives to police brutality.
Tompkins,Lucy."Here'sWhatYouNeedtoKnowAboutElijahMcClain'sDeath."TheNewYorkTimes, August16,2020.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/who-was-elijah-mcclain.html.


Elijah McClain's Last Words
"I can't breathe. I have my ID right here. My name is Elijah McClain. That's my house. I was just going home. I
am an introvert. I'm just different. That's all. I'm so sorry. I have no gun. I don't do that stuff. I don't do any
fighting. Why are you attacking me? I don't even kill flies! I don't eat meat! But I don't judge people, I don't
judge people who do eat meat. Forgive me. All I was trying to do was become better. I will do it. i will do
anything. Sacrifice my identity, I'll do it. You all are phenomenal. You are beautiful and I love you. Try to
forgive me. I'm a mood Gemini. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. Ow, that really hurt. You are all very strong. Teamwork
makes the dream work. (*crying*) Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't trying to do that. I just can't breathe correctly."
(*proceeds to vomit from the pressure to his chest and neck.*)
Booker, Cory. Twitter Post.June 26, 2020. 9:10 am. https://twitter.com/CoryBooker/status/1276518088842850309

Elijah Speaks  By Lawren Brianna Ware, 2021

Love once found is never forgotten. Hope, love, and longing are the themes of this composition perfectly suited for any stranded love interest.

The Heart Does Not Easily Forget

Fallin Leaves from the trees in the street, fall just like I'm falling for you. Easy and free, colours in the breeze, drop like my heart, every time I see you.

Falling Leaves

Wrote this after being inspired by the Graham Central Station funk night. With thanks to Ste Scott on bass and for lyrics to one of the verses(straight from the Holy Bible)..and some great Moseleyites on percussion..

Hi 5!

Youtube : https://youtu.be/CfboO0LjtqU?si=3gFBl0ESn5bxGR75

26.03.20 The Homecoming (feat. The City of Prague Philharmonic)

Immediate Music - Themes For Orchestra And Choir 5

Track composed by Romain Paillot
Produced and published by Immediate Music
Orchestrated by Geoff Stradling / Ladd Mcintosh
Mixed and recorded by Greg Townley
Orchestra : Isobel Griffiths
Recorded at Air Studios, London.

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Hello everyone, welcome to my SoundCloud! Here to create music that moves you.
https://linktr.ee/jaustin219

The Heart Does Not Easily Forget

Josiah Austin

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