The World Was a Secret by Jeremy Van Bus...

By Jeremy Van Buskirk

Duration: 4.5 minutes
Grade Level: 3

The title The World Was A Secret is an adaptation of a quote from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

"The world was to me a secret which I desired to divine. Curiosity, earnest research to learn the hidden laws of nature, gladness akin to rapture, as they were unfolded to me, are among the earliest sensations I can remember."

It speaks to a driving passion for knowledge and a joy for the process of learning. While Frankenstein’s story warns that intense dedication to the pursuit of something good can lead to unexpected and disastrous results, this quote invokes something purer and basic. The wonder of the unknown.

The World Was A Secret does not tell any part of Mary Shelley’s story. It’s not programmatic in this way. It attempts to convey the anticipation, delight, satisfaction, and fear associated with exploring something new. The quest for knowledge and the desire to create are part of what it means to be human. As a composer, my personal exploration leads to the creation of new music. These feeling are present every time I start to compose a new piece. Thankfully it’s hard to imagine a scenario which would lead me to the meet Frankenstein’s fate.

The World Was A Secret was commissioned by World Projects Inc. for Alex Kaminsky and the Stoneman Douglas High School Wind Symphony.

-Written for the Stoneman Douglas High School Wind Symphony as part of the 2018 New York Wind Band Festival at Carnegie Hall