The title Chimera comes from the mythological creature made up of many parts, as well as the alternative meanings of the word; both as an illusory but unachievable hope, and as a biological phenomenon of an organism consisting of multiple kinds of DNA.

I thought the concept of a chimera best described the form of this piece, which is one single solo with familiar yet different musical DNA. I also thought the idea of this solo ultimately being illusory an d unachievable was an accurate one, given the difficulty of the second movement!

This solo Chimera was originally commissioned by marimbist James Koo, without whom this Chimera would have never seen the light of day. - Ted Babcock (2025)