Ashes represent death on the one hand, but they also represent repentance through out the Bible. The book of Jonah says, "the people covered themselves with sackcloth and ashes as a sign of their intention to turn from their evil ways." The book of Job says, "I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance."

In 2006, I was one of five composers to receive a commission from Northwestern college and percussionist Marc Wooldridge.  Each composer was to write a sacred work that would be part of an entire concert of Sacred Percussion music.  

I chose to represent the life of Job - one of the greatest studies in human suffering in the Bible.  At the beginning of the story, we learn that Job was the richest person in the area - with seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, and many servants. He had an amazing family of seven sons and three daughters.  In short, he lived a wonderful life, and he remained faithful to God.  

But then, things took a turn for the worst. Job lost everything. He learned that his children were dead, victims of a house collapsing on them. He lost his livestock and was afflicted with boils all over his body.  At one point, he is scraping his skin with shards of pottery to relieve his agony and the bible says, "his skin was filled with worms and scabs and his flesh broke open, full of pus."  

Amazingly though, through all of these trials and tribulations, Job remained faithful and steadfast. 

As the story ends, God restores Job's previous riches two-fold and he has seven new sons and three new daughters.  It's a remarkable story.  

I chose to call my work in Dust and Ashes... I thought it was a perfect title for a story about someone who had lost everything and for whom returning to dust would have been a welcome relief.  

Musically, I chose to depict this story in 3 sections. The first section is a stately Processional to represent Job’s good life and fortune. The second section, representing his loss of family and health, emerges suddenly with the shriek of a whistle, interrupting the predictable flow that preceded it with a rash of chaotic tempos, flourishes, and dynamic outbursts. The final section, represents the serenity that faith can give in the worst of times. I chose to illustrate this in a slow and spacious way, with the otherwordly sounds of a vibraphone played with a bow. 

Though the excerpt below doesn't include the ending - the piece closes with a hint of the opening promenade, indicating the return of normalcy, and Job’s eventual deliverance from suffering.  I hope you enjoy the work!

Listen to an excerpt of in Dust and Ashes

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