I. Morning

Eyelids heavy, like the moon
concedes to morning air,
sliding into consciousness
and into childcare.

Eardrums on the radio
while navigating dawn,
each routinely wondering
composer of the song.

Ah, he sighs, I’m rarely right,
so Bach will be my guess.
I will guess Bach every day
until I am correct.

Earsand eyesawaken
with surprise as they discover:
Bach is playing every morning
now and through October!

by Maggie Hinchliffe (© Jan 2020)

Morning from “Routine Surprise” was performed at Source Song Festival as part of the 2021 MNSong Composer Showcase. It was performed by Maria Jette, soprano, and Mary Jo Gothmann, pianist, via an online broadcast on August 6, 2021.

Ben Morris is a Colorado-based composer and jazz pianist whose music tells unconventional stories. He recently studied in Oslo, Norway on a Fulbright Grant, composing a work for big band and video inspired by his Norwegian heritage. His compositions have been performed by the American Composers Orchestra, NOW Ensemble, the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, trombonist Vincent Gardner, unassisted fold, Boulder Altitude Directive (BAD), Imani Winds, Living Earth Show, and the NDR Big Band, among others.

Ben’s accolades include performing with his quintet at the Newport Jazz Festival, attending the Aspen Music Festival, studying traditional Korean music at the National Gugak Center in Seoul, and receiving the ASCAP Morton Gould and Herb Alpert Awards, two Downbeat Awards, and commissions from the Washington National Opera, the American Composers Orchestra Jazz Composers Institute, Playground Ensemble, and New York Youth Symphony First Music. Ben is also a versatile film and theatre composer, having recently scored two award-winning public television documentaries, "American River" and "Saving the Great Swamp."

Ben completed his studies at Rice University, University of Miami, and the Norwegian Academy of Music and is currently pursuing a doctorate at the University of Colorado Boulder as an ATLAS fellow.

Further information is available at: https://www.benmorrismusic.com/

https://www.maggiehinchliffe.com/