A Thousand Inner Voices by Mat Campbell; conducted by John M. Wetherington

Oct. 30, 2022: "A Thousand Inner Voices"
Performed at Puyallup High School
Directed by John M. Wetherington
http://southsoundsymphonicband.org

After Mat Campbell had his first premiere at The Midwest Clinic, doubt set in about the future of his career. He thought he peaked as a composer and it was all downhill from there. He states “I couldn’t quiet what felt like a thousand inner voices telling me that I wasn’t good enough.” He used this piece as a coping mechanism to free his mind of those negative thoughts.

In December 2021, Mr. Campbell was asked by Dr. Kailtin Bove of the …And We Were Heard organization to write a piece as a fundraiser for the organization’s yearly expenses. “I’ve always believed in the mission [of] Dr. Bove and the rest of the ...And We Were Heard team… I was incredibly excited to do a small part to contribute to the organization.”

The many musical layers in this work represent the thousand inner voices. Some are positive, but most are negative. They distract from the theme and mock it at times. This occurs throughout the piece until just after halfway, where a chorale beckons the radiant positivity that exists in all of us. This battle between positive and negative lasts to the end of the piece where we hear a triumphant chord only to be followed by a sinking, negative ending. After all, this piece isn’t about only quieting these voices. It’s about learning to live with them.


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The South Sound Symphonic Band is a 501(c)(3) non-profit consisting of talented amateur and semiprofessional musicians who enjoy the challenge of rehearsing and performing to high musical standards, as well as each other’s company. Founded in 1983 as the Federal Way Community Band, later the Federal Way Symphonic Band and in 2000 under its current name, the band performs four concerts per season throughout the South Sound region of Washington State.