The composing of Staying / Going was delayed by the health crisis of a family member. This family member was forced to leave his job, girlfriend, and apartment and move across the country so he could be taken care of by his family. He has since recovered and will be back to his life very soon, but during the time of transition when his medical issues were still a mystery, his life was in a state of flux where any planning for the future was impossible. He had no choice over whether he was staying or going and temporarily letting go of his goals and dreams was required so he could recover. This piece tries to capture what it feels like to have a decidedly uncertain future where possibilities aren't known and many decisions are out of your control. It was written using a variety of tonal materials and tries to capitalize on the carillon's capabilities. A special thanks to Joey Brink for his carillon writing consultation on this piece.

—Margot Glassett Murdoch