The music of Ludwig van Beethoven is loved by people around the world. In 2020, we celebrated his 250th birthday. That same year, I received a request to write a piece about orcas (fast fact: they are nicknamed “killer whales” but are actually a type of dolphin!). I wondered, “Could Beethoven and orcas possibly be combined into a single piece?” Drawing inspiration from the “Ode to Joy,” in this bluesy piece our fingers represent a pod of orcas traveling together: swimming at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour, diving deep, and even leaping into the air!

Score length: 3 pages