Compositions

Opus 1

For the One I Love, Op. 1 No. 1

 

 

This is Shelly’s first-ever classically-composed piece. It was written for a very dear friend, and is her interpretation of the most powerful and irrational human emotion: love.

A Love Poem, Op. 1 no. 2

 

 

This is the second piece in Gage’s first opus. It is based on a poem written by Brandon Spiritas, one of Shelly’s very good, long-time friends.

A Love Poem

Written by: Brandon Spiritas

You are like the
Summer wind, flowing
Through the swaying trees,
Bringing with you leaves and
Love that turn and
Twist in the sky above.

Gently lulling the world
Awake, the breeze lifts
Up sleeping souls, asleep and
Empty all this time, your
Slightest touch does wake them whole.

And now awake, as time goes
By, my love for you
Does only grow.

Secrets of a Solitary Soul, Op. 1 No. 3

 

 

This piece was written during a particularly dark time for Shelly. She felt empty — as if no amount of love or any other kind of blissful happiness would ever be able to fill her up again. She was unmotivated and extremely lost, and this piece definitely lets it show. “Secrets of a Solitary Soul” is all of the things Shelly has never been able to say outloud; it is made up of her inner workings, and is one of her most vulnerable pieces.. (Available on Shelly’s upcoming album)

A War Wherein, Op. 1 No. 4

 

 

This piece marks the end of her first opus, as well as a very difficult period in Gage’s life. During this time, Shelly did a lot, felt a lot, and, most importantly, learned a lot. Its level of significance to the young composer helped it to be featured in the September 2014 issue of WordGathering: an online journal. If you’re interested in viewing the article, you can click here.

Featured Arrangements

Looking Through the Eyes of Love, by Melissa Manchester — theme from Ice Castles

Shelly chose to arrange this particular song, because its historical significance touches her heart very profoundly. “Looking Through the Eyes of Love” is featured in the 1978 film, Ice Castles, which portrays the life of a young, competitive figure skater who loses all of her vision due to a traumatic brain injury, and is forced to beat the odds. Shelly can very much relate to this theme, because her fate was the same. After skating for almost four years and advancing faster than most skaters, Shelly Gage went blind due to diabetic retinopathy at the age of thirteen. Overall, this is a very personal piece for Shelly. Please enjoy.

I Can Only Imagine, by MercyMe

 

 

Gage picked this song to arrange, because it is what brought her closer to God. After hearing the song for the first time, Shelly was in tears — her heart was full, and she knew, from that moment on, that, even in her darkest hours, she had never been alone. She claims that it is because of Him she has continued to be successful throughout the years.

 

 

“I couldn’t do it without Him,” she states, “He constantly pushes me to be the best human being I can possibly be. I truly don’t think I could muster up that kind of strength by myself.”