Piece Comment

A Refreshing Piece


“The Desert, My Mom and Me” is a moving piece about growing up and discovering oneself. Whether the tension is between Trent and his mother, or simply between youth and life, it is present throughout the piece. The constant presence of a conflict – however subtle – is haunting, but also realistic of life and growing up.
This piece showcases the emotional power of voice. Trent is reflective, while his mother’s voice is filled with concern, worry and perhaps even hurt. The tension in the voices mimicked the tension present in a harsh climate such as a desert and the acoustic music brought to mind the colors and raw sounds of that climate.
I would have liked a clearer sense of what questions Trent found answered while he was in the desert. The questions were somewhat addressed, but the conflict between him and his mother overshadowed the thoughts that needed clearing in his mind. Also, I wish there had been more elaboration about the books Trent has been reading in class, and how they may have affected his thoughts and decision to go to the desert.
The most refreshing part of this piece is that it ends without a finalistic conclusion – Trent’s journey seems ongoing. The conflicts in the piece don’t disappear, but are rather put in perspective.
This would be a great piece for programming about growing up, or parent-child relationships, even self-discovery.
Above all, I found this to be a raw, honestly told piece. It’s story and scenes linger with you minutes after the piece fades out.