First exposed to the sound of bronze on the grounds of the University of Michigan, I have immediately fallen in love with the instrument and the breadth of possibilities it can hold. The piece mainly reflects how I, as a student and carillonneur at Michigan, think of the bells as an ever-present icon of support and comfort alongside the ups and downs of being a student in Ann Arbor, and it serves as a parting gift as I embark on a new journey, away from these familiar bells.

The piece consists of both a compilation of musical fragments and motifs that I found most emblematic of the Baird carillon in downtown Ann Arbor, but also walks through a narrative of trials and tribulations, insights and explorations, and reflects the sophisticated journey of what is life in Ann Arbor. Through different modulations and even abrupt harmonical shifts, the same motif returns and evolves into the triumphant ending, the absolute feeling of relief, hope, and ultimately pride that one can surely resonate with as Spring draws near after the long winter.

—Michael Ngan