Commissioned by the choir of Rantsana Fanantenana FJKM Antanetibe Fitiavana for their 10th anniversary, this work was inspired by their chosen motto, “To the Lord I belong, and I press on toward the goal.” I was entrusted with full artistic freedom in shaping the text, musical setting, and overall form of the piece.

The premiere elicited some surprise—why was it not a march? Quite simply, the musical inspiration did not call for one; celebration, after all, can find expression in many forms beyond the traditional march.