Ahead of All Parting explores the emotions of life, death, and what lies beyond as told through the lush sounds of the harp and the dark, sonorous qualities of the mezzo-soprano and bassoon.  With some simple staging, this dramatic work calls upon the words of Rilke and E.E. Cummings to wrap the audience in the world of the here and beyond.  Commissioned by Darrel Hale, bassoon, of Louisiana State University and premiered April 1, 2019 with Megan Ihnen, mezzo-soprano, and Stephanie Gustafson, harp.