Commissioned by Dr. Brian A. West and the Texas Christian University Percussion Orchestra for their PASIC50 performance, through a glass, darkly is a meditation on accepting the sovereignty of God through the inevitable joys and sorrows of life. The title is in reference to 1 Corinthians 13:12 from the New Testament: “For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.”

Additionally, the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul”, also known as “When Peace, Like A River”, provides both musical and contextual inspiration throughout the latter half of the piece. I grappled with these thoughts in the early stages of composition when a former student tragically passed away in a car accident. My hope is that listeners can experience the joy, sorrow, questioning, and acceptance of life’s ups and downs through this lens. Or rather, “through a glass, darkly”.

The expanded arrangement was commissioned by Robbert Houtkamp of the Cadenza Twello ensemble in Netherlands for their performance at the 2026 World Music Contest. In this arrangement, the structure of the piece remains the same yet has these 7 additional parts:

• 2 vibraphones (4 total)

• 2 marimbas (6 total)

• 2 various percussion (5 total)

• 1 timpani (2 total)

INSTRUMENTATION

Player 1: Glockenspiel

Player 2: Chimes

Player 3: Vibraphone, Bongos

Player 4: Vibraphone, Suspended Cymbal

Player 5: Xylophone, Crotales (2 octaves), 2 Congas 

Player 6: Marimba (4.3-octave), 4 Log Drums

Player 7: Marimba (4.5-octave)

Player 8: Marimba (5.0-octave)

Player 9: Marimba (5.0-octave), Small China Cymbal

Player 10: Piano

Player 11: Timpani (5 drums), Piano (shared)

Player 12: 3 Triangles (low, medium, high), Suspended Cymbal (shared), Concert Snare Drum, Kick Drum, Patio Chimes (shared)

Player 13: Patio Chimes (shared), China Cymbal Sizzle (Swish Knocker), Sizzle Cymbal, 4 Concert Toms, Large Splash Cymbal, Suspended Cymbal, China Cymbal (shared), Crash Cymbals (pair) 

Player 14: Concert Bass Drum, Sizzle Cymbal, Tam-tam, 4 Temple Blocks, Suspended Cymbal, China Cymbal (shared), Djembe, Plastic Shaker, Ride Cymbal, Wind Chimes