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SAUDADE (so-dah'de)  deep longing, ardent desire, homesickness, nostalgia (Portuguese)

September 1996 ... The title track, "SAUDADE," came to me while I was living in Aspen and performing to a mostly French audience. I had just moved to Aspen from Alta, Utah, and although I loved Aspen, I was really missing Alta, which I considered home.

A few people approached me after my performance and commented on my newest song. Searching for a title, I asked them, "What does it sound like to you?" As various words were being tossed around, a gentleman by the name of Pierre looked intently into my eyes and said, "Saudade."

"Saudade?" I asked. "What is Saudade?"

"There is no real English translation," he said. "It is a Portuguese word that means a very deep longing, almost like nostalgia but it is deeper."

And I realized that is exactly what I had been feeling at the time it was composed.

A few of the songs included in this album have been inspired as a result of an event that triggered a certain feeling or emotion: such as "Para Alguien Que Me Hacía Sonreír" (for someone who made me smile) which was written shortly after I learned of my dear friend Salvador's death. "Whispering Aspens" was written for the wedding of my friends Jorgi and Annie. "The Child Comes Home" was the first song I wrote upon my return to Alta this past summer.

For the most part, though, I cannot take credit for the music composed on this album. I am simply an instrument from God in much the same way the piano is my instrument. I am so very grateful that He has blessed me with this talent, given me the grace to accept it, and the ability to share it with you. So really, the songs are His songs to you. And I truly believe we are all instruments if only we will get out of the way and let it happen.