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This movement, composed on piano, is for the Mulholland Suite for Orchestra and is in its initial stage of development preceding orchestration. The piece represents Mulholland's wife Lillie Ferguson, who he married on July 3, 1890, thus the title Beloved. The Mulhollands had five children, and Lillie remained a devoted wife out of the spotlight shared by her husband. At the time of Mulholland's greatest achievement as the Builder of the Los Angeles Aquaduct, a celebration was planned to commemorate the opening of the Cascade's gates to allow the Owens River water to flow into Los Angeles for first time. With 40,000 spectators there to witness the historic event, Mulholland gave the signal to his men to "open the gates." Lillie was at the top of his concern though that day, as she remained at home bedridden with cancer with an expectation she may not survive much longer. Mulholland celebrated with the crowd, and then hurried home to be with her. Lillie died a couple of years thereafter.
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