Chapter 5 - The private demo
Daniel first played The Lantern Sea for Victor at our apartment.
I was there.
Chloe was not born yet.
Victor sat at our upright piano while Daniel used a digital keyboard beside him.
They listened to a mock orchestral demo through speakers.
Victor said nothing for nearly a minute afterward.
Then:
“That is the best thing you’ve ever written.”
Daniel smiled.
“Probably.”
“Who is it for?”
“No one.”
“Commission?”
“No.”
“What are you doing with it?”
“Trying to finish movement four.”
Victor offered to finance a recording.
Daniel said:
“Maybe.”
Then Victor said:
“Let the foundation premiere it.”
Daniel was interested.
A major venue.
Orchestra.
Funding.
They discussed possibilities.
Nothing signed.
Two weeks later, Victor’s music attorney sent a proposed development agreement.
The document would have given Blackwood Arts LLC exclusive rights to arrange, record, publish, and adapt The Lantern Sea for seven years in exchange for $90,000 plus royalties.
Composer credit:
Daniel Rowan.
Victor Blackwood:
Executive producer.
That was acceptable in principle.
Daniel negotiated.
He wanted approval over major adaptations.
The deal stalled.
Then Catherine? No.
There was no Catherine in this story.
Then I became pregnant.
Then Daniel’s health changed.
Not cancer yet.
Pancreatitis.
Weight loss.
Pain.
Testing.
Diagnosis.
Everything accelerated.
The contract was never signed.
May you like
That fact became central years later.
────────────────────
