I have in recent days completed the choral and keyboard scores for The Hallel. There is still some work to be done related to orchestral writing and completion of the narration, but reaching this juncture has given me good reason to pause and think about the journey to this point. In late Fall 2016, Al Hawkins, Artistic Director for Deo Cantamus, called me to inquire about my interest and availability to do an extended commission work for that organization. Though I do a number of commissions in any given year, they tend to be smaller in scope and typically with a particular focus from the commissioning organization (like a building dedication, an anniversary celebration, honoring a long-ter