Phantom Limb was written for the Newfound Chamber Winds Tidewater Composition Workshop in Norfolk, VA. It is a three-movement commentary on the invasiveness of technology in our lives and its parasitic effects on our collective wellbeing. The term “phantom limb” is a medical phenomenon that refers to the lingering feeling of a lost limb post-amputation. It is a metaphor for that phantom discomfort we feel when separated from our devices.

The first movement, “Impulse”, evokes the sporadic shifting of our attention. “Gasping for Air” is a conscious plea and prayer. One that longs for our shackles to be set free. The final, “Riptide”, is the pull of a strong current, and the desperation of our autonomy.

My intention with this piece is not to be an alarmist. My hope is that we become critical of the digital tools that permeate our daily lives. And in your own conviction, to find an intentional path forward.

– From the composer