Between Us Now is a stand-along piece as well as the third movement of All Else Above.

Program Notes:

In composing Between Us Now, I interpreted this poem as a sincere and heartfelt work that refers to the relationship of love and understanding between two people. The honesty and courage displayed in Hardy’s language inspired me to follow suit with a direct and carefully intended musical setting.

Between Us Now was written for M. Andrew Jones (tenor) and was premiered by John Bragle (tenor), Maddy Tarantelli (horn), and Erin Bennett (piano) at Interlochen Arts Camp in 2016.

Text, by Thomas Hardy:

Between us now and here -
Two thrown together
Who are not wont to wear
Life's flushest feather -
Who see the scenes slide past,
The daytimes dimming fast,
Let there be truth at last,
Even if despair.

So thoroughly and long
Have you now known me,
So real in faith and strong
Have I now shown me,
That nothing needs disguise
Further in any wise,
Or asks or justifies
A guarded tongue.

Face unto face, then, say,
Eyes mine own meeting,
Is your heart far away,
Or with mine beating?
When false things are brought low,
And swift things have grown slow,
Feigning like froth shall go,
Faith be for aye.