Aerodynamics is a work focused on the continuation of fluid gestures. Every line is echoed and mirrored so that a simple idea expands into a wash of sound. The listener may imagine taking flight throughout this piece, dipping and swooping as the shape of the music weaves its way from high to low and from small to large. This work uses a very limited amount of material, almost entirely consisting of a repetitive two note motive and a fleeting melody. The constant underlying motion builds energy and results in a climax that combines the two ideas in a majestic tutti.
Originally for large orchestra, this work is a transcription by the composer for Wind Ensemble. It will be premiered by the University of Cincinnati Wind Ensemble on October 22, 2010 as part of the Midwest Composers Symposium.
This is a transcription of the Divertimento for five violins, with the slower middle section omitted. I reworked the Divertimento into a Divertimento-Fanfare for the 2008-2009 Dallas Wind Symphony Brass Fanfares Competition, and it was selected to be premiered on February 10, 2009. This work is pending publication through Lovebird Music.
Lift-Off (2006) duration: 3' Commissioned by Andrew Lane and the Florida West Coast Symphony Association
I originally wrote this as an orchestral commission for the Florida West Coast Symphony Youth Philharmonic in 2006. I decided to arrange Lift-Off for symphonic band because of its already wind-heavy nature. The wind version received its premiere with the USC Thornton Wind Ensemble under the baton of H. Robert Reynolds on October 21, 2007.
This piece is available for rental. For more information and recordings, visit the Lift-Off page.
This piece was written between mid-December 2005 through March 6, 2006. This is my first composition for a large wind ensemble. I experimented with controlled improvisation quite a bit in this piece, from telling musicians to repeat a bit of music over and over with some freedom in the tempo to allowing musicians to improvise rhythms on a given set of pitches. I experimented with some unusual sounds as well – I have a solo for water gong and a section where some of the brass players whisper through their instruments. Writing this piece and having it performed was extremely gratifying and I am very interested in writing more for wind ensemble in the future.
Perchance to Dream… was premiered by the Starving Composers’ Ensemble, conducted by Geoffrey Pope, at USC on March 26, 2006. It was performed again on my senior composition recital in February, 2007, and the recording of this performance is on my senior recital page.
This piece, along with Lift-Off, is available for rental. If you are interested, contact me.
The recording below is of a reading session with the Peabody Wind Ensemble, led by Dr. Harlan Parker.
