Still Running was commissioned by Tim Carter for his final recital as part of graduate studies at the University of Victoria. When Tim initially approached me about this piece, we knew we wanted to make music that spoke explicitly to lived queer experience. The text for this cycle was written by Edmonton poet Matthew Stepanic, and the six poems span a wide range of themes and emotions. The penultimate song, “Preserves”, begins subdued on a quiet evening date, but becomes increasingly excited as they begin to indulge. The music is woven with a wistful, repeating motif, eventually becoming unravelled and wild in the middle section—then ultimately sated and content.