False Promise

Dear Performers, Thank you for choosing to perform False Promise, a short piece for tuba and piano that holds great personal significance to me. It serves as a poignant commentary on a pressing global issue: the alarming rise in global temperatures, which poses a grave threat to our planet’s habitability. For decades, we have engaged in a heated debate about the existence of global warming. It is disheartening to witness the denial of climate change by some individuals. This denial belies the urgency and insidious nature of the climate crisis itself. However, the evidence of this crisis is undeniable. Record-breaking hurricanes and typhoons have wreaked havoc across both hemispheres, often surpassing previous storm intensity. Searing heat waves have scorched regions like the American Southwest, exacerbated droughts and desertification in various African areas, and jeopardized global crop yields. Winters in colder regions have become warmer and wetter over the years. This piece serves as a call to action, reflecting the stark reality of these events. The title, False Promise, alludes to the pledge made by countries in the Paris Agreement of 2016. Ninety-six countries of the United Nations committed to charting a path toward eliminating carbon emissions or achieving carbon neutrality. The objective was to prevent global temperatures from surpassing 2 degrees Celsius before the end of the century, a threshold considered critical for the survival of our civilization. Regrettably, it appears that the emissions targets set by this agreement are being disregarded worldwide. It is as if they are being ignored altogether. I urge you to consider the significance of this piece and its message as you prepare for your performance. Let us use our talents to raise awareness and inspire action to combat this pressing global issue. The purpose of False Promise is to shed light on this injustice that affects every single one of us on this planet. I hope that our world’s governments can find a more successful path forward through this crisis. Perhaps this small tuba solo can be a small part of that. I would like to express my gratitude to Dr. Nick Beltchev, my esteemed colleague since our freshman year at the University of Michigan, for commissioning this piece. Dr. Beltchev is not only a talented musician, scholar, and educator but also a wonderful friend and a genuine person. When he approached me with the idea of composing a piece for tuba and piano that incorporated heavy metal influences, I was thrilled about the prospect. I am a huge fan of Nick’s work, and it has been an absolute pleasure to create this piece for him. Sincerely, Evan Zegiel