THE MORO REFLEX

July 2025

All of our bodies were programmed to protect themselves. Since we were infants, the brain hid an involuntary reflex for each means of survival: feeding, stepping, reaching --- basic mechanisms that give us a means to trust ourselves. The Moro reflex occurs with a sensation of falling. A child will outstretch their hands, legs and neck when they feel off-balance or if they’re about to be dropped. Before we knew what survival even meant, our bodies were trying to do it. In a way, reflexes are our pre-integrated cry for help. This piece reflects on childhood and the journeys we take across the obstacles of mistrust, identity, and systematic neglect.

I. What A Son Should Be

The first movement was premiered by Noah Stoker and Ryan Godfrey at Interlochen Arts Camp on July 29th, 2025. Formerly known as Undivided Attention (but remembered in the tempo marking), movement one is a scherzo of sorts—a jolting race of glory and fervor. Inspiration comes from the Olympic race scene at the beginning of Madeline Miller’s "The Song of Achilles," where the mortals have one shot to evince their strength as gods. King Menoetius turns to his son Patroclus and scoffs as Achilles wins, wishing his boy were more like him.

ii. Summer Stars

Being intertwined with the many lives of people in the Northern Michigan woods revealed many paradoxes about humans to me as a counselor: the only consistency between persons is their uniqueness; we stay the same only by changing and varying. My last night out was on Peterson Beach and I could see every single star. I’ve always been amazed by how stars are really millions of years of light; we’ve been alive at just the right time to see the journey reflected in the

This movement is dedicated in memory of Dr. Bob Mueller, my first composition professor, who encouraged me to pursue Interlochen and with me shared a love for the sky.

iii. Open Your Mouth, Darkness