Commissioned by National Concerts for its premiere at Carnegie Hall June 8, 2024, Vincent Oakes, conductor
In the summer of 2023, the composer, Sherry Blevins, listened to the latter part of a riveting interview on National Public Radio with Johann Hari on his new book, Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention – and How to Think Deeply Again. She had been feeling in her bones (andsleep patterns) for some time that something was wrong. Mr. Hari knew why, so she bought the book and began devouring it.
That same summer is when Sherry began contemplating the focus of the piece that she wouldcompose for National Concerts’ Carnegie premiere. She knew she wanted this music to say something that no one had said before. In her story about the genesis of this work she recounts:
“I had been feeling what many of us were feeling: a frustration because of our addiction to our devices resulting in our inability to pay attention. I was considering the focus of Mr. Hari’s book for my piece, but I wasn’t certain yet…. Then I attended a state music educator’s conference. Because most of my time is spent composing alone or teaching one-on-one, I was bracing myself for the dramatic shift in noise and people. Yet, I walked into the conference hotel at peak check-in time and was greeted with silence. There were teachers and students everywhere, but no one interacted nor spoke a word. Everyone was glued to their phones like zombies, and so it was decided. I had to write about THIS!”
In his book, Stolen Focus, Hari says, “We think our inability to focus is a personal failure to summon enough willpower to ignore our devices. The truth is even more disturbing: Our focus has been stolen by powerful external forces that have left us uniquely vulnerable to corporations determined to raid our attention for profit. Hari found that there are twelve deep causes of this crisis, from the decline of mind-wandering to rising pollution, all of which have robbed some of our attention. Crucially, Hari learned how we can reclaim our focus – as individuals, and as a society.”
Sherry Blevins’ hope is that “Awaken” helps at least one person to loosen the grip that technology has on them AND that they can once again “See the sun rise, feel the moon glow, and connect with each other” in ways that they have long forgotten.
Awaken
Clicking and swiping and doom scrolling,
Clicking and swiping and searching.
Texting and posting; it’s overwhelming.
What are we doing?
Why can’t we sleep? Why do we feel this fascination?
Why can’t we think? Why does it cause this consternation?
Our universe is growing, yet we shrink.
Our hands are ever glowing; we try to stop, but it’s unending.
What is this force? Why do we stare? Why am I feeling colder?
This thing is not me; why can’t we see what will set us free?
Our concentration’s failing. Can you hear me?
This distraction is prevailing. We try to claw out of the darkness.
Where is the hope? Where is the light?
How can we end this suffering?
Why is love scarcer than hate?
Can we start again? Or is it too late?
See the sunrise. Feel the moon glow.
Find a shooting star, as it streaks across the sky.
Follow the fireflies and your daydreams too.
For the light you feel is still inside of you.
Pay attention. Listen.
Connect with each other,
Feel your heart begin to glow.
Let your passion light a fire in your soul.
Be a beacon of hope for a world overdue.
Make a difference and share the light in you.
Make a difference for each other.
Make a difference and share the light in you!
— Sherry Blevins