Heart Lake is an excerpt from my first symphony for wind ensemble, Verdant Anthology. Situated between two energetic and fast-paced movements, this middle movement offers a serene and introspective pause—a bridge that deepens the overarching themes of the symphony, which explore humanity’s relationship with the natural world.

While built upon a foundation of rich harmonies and textures, Heart Lake is anchored by strong melodies that create a compelling through-line across the piece’s dreamlike soundscape. At its core, the piece represents a spiritual journey toward peace and acceptance, where fragments of the American folk song Wayfaring Stranger guide the listener through moments of heightened awareness and transcendence. These familiar strains of the song gradually evolve, leading the music toward a subtle yet profound resolution and ultimately settling into an ethereal chorus.

This final chorus symbolizes not just an arrival, but a peaceful acceptance—offering closure and serenity as the journey reaches its culmination. The journey of Heart Lake is not an end, but a transcendence, where the melodies transform into something timeless, eternal, and at peace.

Heart Lake invites reflection on the impermanence of life and the beauty of embracing the unknown. Through its delicate balance of harmonic richness and melodic clarity, this movement offers both a sense of mystery and a comforting, quiet resolution.