In A Yellow Wood

• written for Wagner Tuba and String Orchestra; 13’ 00”

• may substitute with French horn; part is written in F

( 2024 )

Program Note

The title of In A Yellow Wood is lifted from the first line of the famous poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. The poem is often interpreted to be about the reflection of taking the “[road] less traveled by,” a reason for celebration, as that choice affects the rest of one’s life. This interpretation is inspiring, but there are other interpretations that center on the choice being one to regret, as the speaker recounts this experience in life “with a sigh.” It is alleged that the poem is Frost lightly teasing a friend for their tendency to be frozen with indecision. If the paths both “equally lay,” did choosing one really “[make] all the difference?”

A close friend once shared with me a feeling they had been conflicted with: “I don’t want to leave, but I don’t know if I can stay.” This dilemma reminded me of Frost’s poem: to be in a yellow wood filled with indecision over choosing the right path, not knowing if one would result in a better future or not. In that moment, it’s impossible to know what will result from one choice. Presumably, once this piece ends, the speaker will choose the road less traveled by, and depending on our interpretation, that will make all the difference. Perhaps the path will be wildly different, but the result will be the same: a life [hopefully] well traveled, regardless of the details along the way.

I do not intend to musically portray two different paths, but instead some of the inner chaos that eventually results in making a choice. This work is all encapsulated in just one moment, followed by the decision of which path to choose. Even coming up with a title for this piece was like being in a yellow wood, so regardless of how I forecast my future, I at least want to poke a little fun at myself. In the end, did the selection of this title make all the difference? ......probably not. But we’ll see.

— Connor Gibbs, October 25, 2024