Bone Dry

Apathy is an attractive place to live. It’s safe, it’s detached, it’s padded like the walls of an
asylum. But, it’s as dry as a desert. It’s empty and numb, and ultimately whenever I’ve
bargained with myself, I’ve ended up choosing the tumult of life’s highs and lows over the
sensuous monotony that apathy has to offer.
Bone Dry was written at that decision point (which I return to every now and then...when
will I learn?!) when once again I decided to embrace the rainy, tearful parts. Musically, it
was a challenge to flirt with dull stoicism without creating a piece without a shape or
much of interest, so I leaned into a parallel melody structure that hovers in the same range
with only a few deviating notes that seem to tease the opportunity for escape. The
repetitive “moh moh” rhythmic accompaniments in the verses felt to me like finding the

electric fence that lines the edge of apathy’s property. Bumping into it feels as wrong-
footed as triplets against duplets, and after fighting it for a few stanzas, we take a soaring

leap into a more feeling territory. It’s accepting, emerging from its previous melodic
confines, but also its wings are new. Me and Bone Dry aren’t completely sure that the
lows are worth it. But by singing it we’re reminding ourselves to try.

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Commissioned by the Herriman High School Chamber Singers under the direction of Andrew Howden