Daniel Darmesin Flanagan

Violin, Viola, and Cello

Composer's Note:

Ehrlichia is one of dozens of tick-borne diseases known under the umbrella term, Lyme Disease. Each Lyme patient has a unique combination of the diseases that attack the immune system in a variety of ways. Symptoms include muscle pain, stiffness, fatigue, arthritis, gut issues, skin disorders, nerve pain, numbness, reduced brain function, vertigo, paralysis, dementia, heart failure, and countless others. Often misdiagnosed at the onset, Lyme can become chronic, with no cure. While all the treatments for chronic Lyme are experimental, the most common treatment is long-term antibiotics. While taking antibiotics, the disease fights back, causing an increase of symptoms, known as herxing. Some patients experience temporary or permanent relief from antibiotic treatment, but relapse is common.

This piece is about the experience of a Lyme victim. It begins with a pizzicato tick bite. The recurring rondo theme represents the bacteria traveling through the blood stream. Each digression represents a symptom or symptoms, along with the emotional reaction of the victim. These are open to interpretation. The relentless C major chords toward the end represent the jabs of intravenous antibiotics, along with the most aggressive statement of the Lyme theme, illustrating herxing. This is followed by triumphant relief, bliss, and the inevitable relapse.

Artist Nancy Schroeder was commissioned to create a painting inspired by this composition as part of the project, The Bow and the Brush.