In July and August I was in Auvillar, France, participating in a wonderful artist residency at the Virginia Center of the Creative Arts’ Moulin à Nef campus. During the residency I sketched a new motet, a Magnificat, commissioned by Emmanuel Music that will be sung on the third Sunday in Advent, December 11, at Emmanuel Church in Boston. Auvillar was beautiful and inspiring, and the time spent with fellow artists-in-residence was especially stimulating. What is more, the Tour de France came through our tiny village while I was there.