In the fall of 2010 I was studying composition with Dr. Ehle at Northern Colorado, and approaching my fourth wedding anniversary. I had in mind to set text from the Song of Songs and dedicate the music to Renee as an anniversary present. Dr. Ehle approved the project for academic credit. I selected text from the biblical poem and composed the first eight songs over the course of the semester. I still had one more to finish, however. I wrote the final song the day before our anniversary on the 22nd, when I was planning to take Renee to a recital hall on campus and sing the whole set for her as the sole audience member, with a recorded accompaniment track. I finished just in time and performed on our anniversary.

I knew, however, that the cycle needed someone with proper technique to perform it on my graduate recital. Zach Wilson lent his commanding voice to this occasion the following semester. This recording features Zach’s amazing vocals with piano accompaniment that I fine-tuned in 2022.