Adiel’s Story
by David Campo
Trumpet and Piano
2024 – 18’
$20.99
In April of 2022, Adiel Nájera was a healthy, athletic 25-year-old doctoral trumpet student at the University of Kentucky who knew something was very wrong, as he was suddenly exhausted and experiencing chest pains and severe disorientation. Weak and unable to leave his apartment, he phoned his parents who immediately realized the situation was dire due to Adiel's slurred speech and confusion. Hours later, he was in a fight for his life and his family was hastily flying to Lexington to be by his side; Adiel had experienced multiple strokes and was rushed to UK HealthCare's Kentucky Neuroscience Institute, where he underwent a series of life-saving emergency surgeries. Due to the devastion wrought by the strokes, Adiel would endure a long, grueling road of occupational, speech and physical rehabilitation before returning to his pre-stroke level of motor and musical skills. However, having been Adiel's college band director, I knew that if it was possible, Adiel would accomplish it. With his incredible work ethic coupled with the remarkable, steadfast support and faith of his amazing family and dedicated therapy team, Adiel eventually returned to playing trumpet at the level required of a doctoral student.
When he first began relearning to play the trumpet, I asked if we could collaborate on a work to celebrate him and his family. Adiel graciously agreed, and I started the project by asking him to compose a melody that expressed his feelings about his experience; that brief melody became the basis of this work. The second movement was completed first with the first, third and fourth following in succession.
The interval of a 5th is integral to the work - both in its perfect and diminished states, musically representing Adiel’s “perfect” and “diminished” physical and emotional states before, during and after his stroke as well as his return to health.
Adiel’s Story is structurally a fairly straight forward classical sonata of four movements:
I. Sonata Allegro (Intro, Exposition consisting of A and B themes, development, recapitulation and coda)
II. Lyrical adagio (Intro, A, B and Coda (variation of intro))
III. Dance Movement (Minuet & Trio of a sort)
IV. Sonata Rondo Finale (A, B, A, C (Development), A, Codetta)
Having said that, the piece can actually be viewed as a tripartite form by combining Mvts. II & III. Both are on flugelhorn, and while Mvts. I & IV are labeled “Before” and “After” respectively, Mvts. II & III can rightfully be thought of as “During.” I felt the darker tone of the conical bore flugelhorn lent itself well to expressing both the ideas of "Desolation" and "Rejuvination."
While it has been inspiring to me to witness Adiel's recovery, it is the love and support shown by his extraordinary family that is truly awe-inspiring. He is an exceptional young man from a remarkable family, and I consider myself fortunate to know them. While the work is dedicated to Adiel, in many ways this piece of music is for his entire family - Paul, Johjania and Johniel - and the dedicated health professionals that saved Adiel's life. For a more in-depth view of Adiel's story, go to:
https://ukhealthcare.uky.edu/extraordinary-people/symphony-support
