published on
“The Amputation” is inspired by a true event in the life of Aron Ralston, author of Between a Rock and a Hard Place and subject of the 2010 film 127 Hours. On April 26th, 2003, the 27-year-old was hiking through a slot canyon in southeastern Utah when he accidentally dislodged a 360 kg boulder, causing it to fall with him to the canyon floor. The boulder smashed his left hand, then pinned his right hand against the canyon wall, trapping him in a standing position. Ralston spent five days and five nights slowly sipping at his 350 ml of water, holding out for an unlikely rescue. After many futile efforts to move the stone, Ralston attempted to amputate his arm with his multi-tool, but it was not nearly sharp enough to cut through the bones. On his fifth night in the Canyon, Ralston carved “RIP ARON 04-03” on the canyon wall.
This piece of music depicts the following:
On the morning of May 1st, day six of his entrapment, Ralston awoke from his half-sleep surprised to still be alive. Starving, dehydrated, and delusional, he anticipated death at any hour, until he had an epiphany- that he could push against the canyon wall to create enough torque to snap the bones in his right arm. The crack of the Ulna, then the Radius, echoed through the canyon. Ralston then took his multi-tool knife and began cutting through his arm. After a few minutes, a stream of blood dripping down the wall reminded Ralston to apply his makeshift tourniquet, lest he bleed to death during the procedure. Ralston resumed the surgery, cutting through skin, muscle, tendons, and arteries, until he saw the nerve. The mere contact of the blade to the nerve sent a fiery sensation of pain through his entire body. Ralston plucked the nerve with his knife, and after a shock of pain, regained his composure and continued with the procedure. A few minutes later, Ralston suddenly detached himself from the rock. He was free.
This is a recording of the premiere performance, April 18th, 2018 in Boyd Recital Hall at Rowan University.
Benjamin Burnham - Piano
Thomas Reilly - Timbales
Alphonso Gonzalez - Bongos
Ryan Clare - Rute, Bass Drum, and Auxiliary Percussion
Image Credit: "Cedar and Sand" by blogspot user TK421
- Genre
- Classical