Three–Eight Charlie

In 1964, the American aviator Jerrie Mock was the first woman to fly solo around the world, in spite of her critics and the bad weather forecasted. She completed this journey in 29 days on board the “Spirit of Columbus”, a singleengine Cessna.

This story inspired Marc Jeanbourquin. The aviator’s determined nature appears from the very first bars, reflecting her mood before take-off. The hymn that follows illustrates the beginning of the flight, when allis going well. This leads to a calmer section, as if the aviator was letting herself be carried by the air currents above the clouds, lost in her thoughts. Then a more energetic passage brings her back inside the cockpit toconfront the bad weather she encounters.

She overcomes these difficulties to appear out of the clouds before a cheerful finale, as if nearing the finishing line. Welcome aboard for a flight around the world!

First prize in thecomposition competition of the Swiss Music Association (Contest music 4th category 2020).