Far From Here

Composer(s) / Arranger(s): John Meehan

Performance Time: 3:38  |  Grade: 3 1/2  |  Style: Contemporary, Jazz

I love to travel, meeting and getting to know amazing people, and witnessing with my own eyes, some of the most beautiful places on our great planet. Nearly 10 months into the Coronavirus pandemic, and not having stepped foot inside an airport that entire time, I was desperately missing that unique sensation of nervous energy as you anticipate where you’re going, who you'll meet, and what you might see. Sitting down to the piano one day, not expecting to write anything, I just began expressing how I felt, and it came out a bit jazzy and melodic. As I continued to play around with the ideas, a “tune” started to form, and orchestration ideas presented themselves. Not wanting to force anything, I jotted down a few notes, as the old memory isn’t what it used to be, and stepped away from the idea for a few days. Upon returning to what I had come up with that first day, the initial chord progressions and orchestration ideas led the way, along with the opening melody, and Far From Here was now officially in the making. In a sense, a story is told, from the opening conversations of taking a grand family vacation, to the travel and anticipation of arrival, immediately immersing yourself in the culture, and of course, exploring the people and places, witnessing in awe all of the wonders they present, then finally reliving those memories for years to come.