To Live in Los Angeles | flute, oboe, marimba & piano | 8'
To Live in Los Angeles was premiered by Helix Collective (Sarah Robinson, flute; Phil Popham, oboe; Lorry Black, marimba; Katie Norring, piano). This piece was commissioned for Helix Collective's concert program L.A. Stories, as well as their newly-released album of the same name, in which Los Angeles-based composers wrote works about the city for speaking chamber ensemble.
text
First, the hills will burn.
Let them—
but stay here.
Stay.
Learn to spend more than you have;
learn to have just enough.
Learn to leave the porch light on for yourself.
Some days the hills will burn;
some days, they'll disappear.
Let them.
Be driving constantly;
be driving, always, into the sun.
The car will break down;
let it.
Drive it into the ground.
Let the moon be a child's moon,
the wind, always the wind before a storm.
Gusty winds may exist—
let them.
Let fallen palm fronds look like road kill,
the street names like water:
Ripple, Ripple.
Turn left onto Echo, or just remember
the act of doing so.
Drive daily past Future Street;
never turn.
Bring it all to a boil,
each small sweetness in the back of the throat.
Bring it all to a boil that can't be stirred down.
Meet him.
Meet him, finally, here,
in the hills—where else?—
let them burn,
and stay here.
Stay.
—Dale Trumbore
early drafts & composing notes
Click on each score to magnify it.



