I was so honored that If I… (the last of my Four Dickinson Songs, in the clarinet/baritone/piano arrangement) was performed at Benita Valente’s Celebration of Life Program on September 2, 2026. I never met Benita Valente but so admired her artistry, and am grateful to Randall Scarlata, Anthony McGill and Cynthia Raim for including this song in the memorial program.
If I… was written for my father’s 80th birthday back in 1996. I especially wanted to create a melody that I knew he would enjoy. Every time I hear the song I think of him (I also think of him at other times).
The clarinet version was commissioned by Sing for Hope in 2013 – and it was not an easy task to add another line to the song. In order to balance the piece for a stand-alone version, I wound up adding additional measures. Anthony, Randy and I recorded the song for An Aids Quilt Songbook: Sing for Hope, released on CD on December 1, 2014.
from our August 27, 2014 recording session. L to R: Anthony McGill, Lori Laitman, Randall Scarlata