Flora (For String Quartet) by Nick Haemker

Flora is a piece about growth and hope. I knew before I began composing that I wanted to write a piece about growth and life. As you may all know, life is never perfect. I believe a lot of us grow up with this concept that we are to enjoy being a kid, graduate college, get a job, and live this ideal life. What I have found with my own journey in this world, is that nothing is ever perfect and I wanted to write music that reflects that. Part of life is going through struggles and hardships and that fact just adds to the complexity of our own personal journeys. The stories I have heard from others can be very heartbreaking.

What you are about to hear is my interpetation of the reflection of growth as humans. In the beginning, life may seem new and wonderful, although that is not always the case, but I feel like the mind of a child is full of wonder, awe and happiness. The inevitable will happen and we all at some point will go through hardships and heartbreak. But we as people are strong and can overcome anything, even what seems to be impossible. My friends, I tell you this. I hear your heartbreak and I can assure that there is nothing that we cannot overcome. There is beauty at the end of it all and it is magnificent. The first step is to understand one another again. To listen tentatively and to have hope.

This piece is not only a reflection of me, but it goes out to anyone who feels like there is no hope. This piece is for the single mothers and fathers raising their children on their own. To the people going through divorce. To the person who's significant other has passed away and they feel all alone. To the mother who loves their child so much it hurts to see their child in pain. To the lost ones. To the ones who have seen horrible things happen to good people. To the abused. I hear all of you and I understand.