What Will Become of Us?

“What Will Become of Us?” is an orchestral tone poem inspired by “Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.”

Since our dawn to inevitable dusk
A question implanted in our mind
A question of legacy
Prompting a quest to find meaning when there may be none.
So we seek the answer in our journey…
Unveiling itself through riddles of gaiety, pain, elation and despair.
As we try to fulfill our hopes, desires,
The question haunts our dreams:
When our ashes are finally blown away,
Our dust scattered in wind…
What will become of us?
(Poem by: Rebecca Carovillano)

Play the piece by clicking the triangle button below! (Please keep page open while playing)

What others are saying:

“One thing I like about your music is that, although you appear to be well-trained, your music does not sound like so many others who fit that bill. By which I mean, it sounds natural. that is, your training does not get in the way of your composing, if that makes any sense. You have an original voice. Your music is yours, not something that is the result of applying esoteric techniques to the point where the listener struggles in vain to find something to grab onto. Great job, I loved the piece!” M. Diemer

“WOW, Dave, this is quite an accomplishment with very difficult underlying thoughts. It is hard not to exaggerate in dramatising the subject through heavy or stormy musical language, but you didn’t. The whole piece has something contemplative and soothing, a serenity in movement, brilliantly orchestrated. Thanks to the extreme transparency every detail is manifestly present and strikes the listener (my experience anyway) and the orchestral balance is nearly perfect.

The ‘real’ wind coming in at 6.30′ could be a little more noisy in order to make the transition to the instrumental wind imitation more effective; it would augment the poetic effect even more.
I have to say that I ended the listening with some kind of esoteric and confronting feel at the same time and that has of course to do with the accompanying text. It is so contemplative and reflecting, confronting and direct; it brings us back to the less poetic reality after the last major chord, so peacefully.

A big applause as well for Becky’s beautiful words. They catch in some phrases so well the relativeness of our strive and struggle in our brief terrestrial passage. Only a bit of ashes blown away in the wind… And the open final question leaves more than comfortable room for interpretation. I wouldn’t call it a poem strictest sense, but rather a very well written and thought through piece of poetic prose.
Together they build a fine piece of artwork! Congratulations.” J. Wylin

“I’m enthusiastic about this piece. Concerning the music: it kept my attention until the end in a positive way. But for me the most positive thing were the strings. This is a very beautiful use of the Synchron and Orchestral Strings library. They both have their good, very good and some little less qualities (but I like both and I shouldn’t want to miss one of them), but with this combination you made a really wonderful sound, living, real, warm, intense. I looks like you took the best of both of them and created a beautiful ensemble sound. I enjoyed it very much.” M.M.K.A.

“I liked the piece, the small parts of this little trilogy are relatively independent, so it’s easy to grasp despite the length. I liked the bass clarinet, in fact It doesn’t play often, but when it did, it was so… I don’t know… assertive? Given the subject, to the extent that I’m able to understand it, I expected something more minor, but no, the overall mood is hopeful and “light”.” Crusoe

“I thought this was a very colourful and conversational piece! The pace, atmosphere and tone made me think about how fleeting life is. Really lovely.” A. Martin
“Engrossed, emotional, dynamic and very colorful! Great work – thanks a lot for this – I really enjoyed it.” T. Kallweit
“This composition really calls for a real orchestra! Well done as a mockup but this is real music for real players. I hope you get the opportunity to have a good orchestra performing it. Great work!” Saxer

“I really enjoyed that and I want to thank you for writing and sharing a really lovely piece. I was especially impressed by the dialogue of thematic elements, especially among the woodwinds (Mahler came to mind in a good way). And I loved your folklike dance elements. The wind machine was a fine, symbolic touch. You really integrated the spirit and the heart of the poem well. I’ll be back for more of it. ” P. Williams

“Amazing writing work… Congrats.” M. Duprez