BJ Brooks

Isabella Air

Isabella Air was inspired by a poignant moment in Dr. Gary Garner's life. During a trip to his late wife's (Mariellen Garner 1931-1994) hometown with his sons (their entire family-flautists), Gary paused to collect sand in a pill bottle. When he returned home, he found himself staring at the bottle, contemplating opening it. However, after a moment of reflection, a profound realization struck him—this wasn't just sand; it held something far more precious to him. In a quiet, introspective moment, he whispered to himself, "No, I can't open that. It has Isabella air in it." "Isabella Air" explores the themes of love, loss, and the profound significance of memory. As many have, I too have been transported in memory when listening to music. Sometimes it seems that the memories are so close, with just a little more effort, you can just touch them. This piece was written for just that, a collection of sounds that serves as a vehicle to transport the mind through space and time, to a place, a person, a moment. The interplay of sounds mirrors Gary's internal dialogue, creating a reflective musical narrative that honors the sentiment encapsulated in that unopened pill bottle of Isabella air.