Go Forth

In early 2020, Benjamin Hay and Will Koehler approached me about writing a piece in memory of Stephen Goforth, who had tragically passed earlier that year. Unfortunately, I didn’t know Steve, so I only had the memories and notes sent to me by others on which to base my impressions and subsequently compose the music.

What immediately became clear was his love for his students, his family, his friends, and his faith.

He seemed to carry a persona that many of us strive for, which makes it all the more sad that his life was taken altogether way too soon. One story that really struck me was that of a pattern of instruction he used on many students. He would invite them to his house to play trumpet duets. If they struggled on particular phrases, pieces, or techniques, he would invite them back to play some more. This would repeat until he felt they had figured it out. This is when he would then allow them to “go forth” on their own. It is a wonderful coincidence that this also happened to be his last name, and therefore, my title for this work.

There is no way to accurately portray a human life through a seven-minute piece of music, but the inspiration I received from messages from his loved-ones formed the following musical thoughts:
The piece opens with an original hymn-like passage. I wanted to do this first, as a tribute to Steve, and to allow for those listening to take a minute to reflect on him, and contemplate on a life lost too soon.
The “Spirito” section (letter C) is fun, syncopated music, very much on purpose, so as to reflect his fun personality. The melody is always performed first in the trumpet (the teacher), and subsequently repeated by the piano (the student). It’s as if the teacher is saying “here’s how it goes; now your turn.” Throughout the work, the student gets closer and closer, first repeating it two measures later, then one measure, then one beat.

Finally they play it together, in unison, at the end, and it is now that the student is ready to “go forth”. Embedded in the middle of this section is the hymn: “All creatures of our God and King”, to recall his strong faith. Existing simultaneously with the hymn are all of the fun traits that Stephen embodied, resulting in one whole person that was entirely his own. Finally, at the very end, the “Goforth Hymn” is restated, now in grand fashion, bring the piece to a powerful, fun, and hopefully meaningful conclusion, all composed in an effort to be as close to worthy of Stephen Goforth as possible.

Jim Stephenson; August 11, 2020