A Song for My Dad on Father’s Day

I wrote a song as a gift to my dad, a combined birthday and Father’s Day present. His real name is Adelbert, which he isn't fond of, so he has gone by Del for most of his life. In February, I released a song I wrote for my mom, so I was excited to write one for my dad as well. However, I have to admit, the task was more daunting. The songs are instrumental, so the challenge was to capture the essence of my dad through music. This naturally reflects my relationship with him and how I perceive him.

My parents are, in many ways, opposites. The two compositions I wrote make this clear. Although they both feature piano and violin, they convey very different messages. If I had to summarize my perceptions of my mom that inspired the piece “Helen,” it would be beauty in simplicity. When writing my dad’s composition, I knew it would be anything but simple. My dad is a complex individual, and I wanted the music to reflect that.

I started with his career. He was a sort of mad scientist (my words, not his). Graduating from Cal Tech, he earned a PhD in physics and eventually worked with lasers and semiconductors at Sandia Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM. His curiosity and exploration led him to some discoveries in his field.

The chords and melodies I wrote were inspired by thoughts of him "tinkering" in the lab. You might hear the "mad scientist" at work. In my adult years, we have discussed similarities in our work; we both tinker, explore, and discover: him with physics, me with music.

My dad is not outspoken and is known for his quiet observation, but underneath, there is a lot going on. After composing the piece, playing and recording the upright felt piano required more precision and practice than usual. It took time for me to master the piece. We will call it a labor of love.

The second section introduces a synth pulse and polyrhythms of eighth notes against triplets, capturing my dad’s technical and complex thought processes.

The song closes by slowing down. I didn't want to make the mistake of only seeing my dad as a scientist. He is the man who shaped my identity. As the pace slows, the strings lower and deepen. I have always seen myself as grounded and confident, traits I attribute to my dad. He exemplified determination and was not easily pushed around, nor easily shaken or swayed by others.

All in all, this composition is a celebration of him. Dad, I love you so much, and words cannot express my gratitude and love. The language of music might be the best way for me to say it.