The day before the opening of Focus! 2003, Lou Harrison left a message on my answering machine, expressing his profound happiness that Juilliard was celebrating his life in music. Unfortunately, as he implied that he was about to board a train bound for another festival in Ohio, I did not attempt to return his call. His death on February 2, two days after the end of the Focus! Festival, was for me therefore an especially sad coda to our great feast of his music.

And then there was a strange second coda on Feburary 6, when an equally sweet letter of thanks from him arrived,

Joel Sachs received this letter from Lou Harrison, which arrived just days after the composer's death.

delayed in the mail for having been misaddressed. It had been written on January 23, the same day as his telephone message, and its lively tone and decorative accents of hand-done calligraphy (a passion of his) rendered the fact of his death almost impossible to believe.

I doubt, however, that Lou would have wanted his death to be regarded as a tragedy. He rejoiced -- as should we all -- that, after nearly 86 years, he still had his vibrant creative and intellectual powers. Above all, Lou had still the astonishing capacity to radiate his positivism. Over the 17 years that I knew him, I saw again and again how all who met him were inspired by his passion for life.

Lou Harrison's music will be his enduring monument.