The late composer, Morton Feldman (my former teacher in my twenties), famously remarked, “For years I said if I could only find a comfortable chair I would rival Mozart.” Of course, we understand that metaphorically. For the past six weeks, I have spent at least twelve hours a day feverishly working to complete a twenty-minute score for sixteen players entitled Diary of a Lung, with a deadline looming like dark clouds quickly approaching on the horizon. Despite this sustained adrenaline rush, if there ever was “a chair” in the world, it would certainly be this great residency project of the Civitella Ranieri Castle in Umbria. It is the people who fashion and maintain this most precious of chairs. It is funny how life and metaphor often collide in a most serendipitous manner, as it was just yesterday that our beloved director, Dana, was ruminating over new chairs for the castle guests. Comfortable, practical, stylish, and most importantly, thoughtfully considered with the care and devotion that arise simply and naturally from the love of art, life, and people. For me, this chair of six weeks has produced the work of six months, and most importantly, nothing compromised in the sprint. This is pure magic.