Karen Griebling

Full Orchestra

Composer's Note:

Composed as a memorial to the composer’s mother, Mary Ann Griebling, matriarch of a dynasty of composers and respected composer and music teacher, the first movement comprises musical motifs derived from Mary Ann’s name and initials and celebrates her fondness for anagrams. Mom enjoyed sitting on the porch swing observing the birds at the feeders, particularly chickadees. Before their 50th Anniversary Mary Ann fell on the stairs. While recovering, she became determined to dance the tango at their anniversary, and dance it they did. The last performance of her music Mom attended was her “Amore por Tango” for Woodwind Quintet in 2020. Alzheimer’s is characterized by memory loss and agitation. The final movement of the symphony brings back themes from the earlier movements in an agitated waltz-like kaleidoscope of timbres and textures. An ominous horn solo signals that the end is near.