Concert Band Releases
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Espíritu
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Living in a diverse and vibrant part of the country I am regularly intrigued and inspired by people from countries around the world. During the summer months of 2018 this multiculturalism was celebrated as the FIFA World Cup delighted my community as well as many others. A walk downtown was enhanced by the signage, jerseys, and conversation of those in support of their homeland (or adopted homeland) while a sense of pride permeated the atmosphere. Espíritu (the Spanish word for Spirit) was written with this lively and powerful display of “home” in mind.
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Jersey Jaunt
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I am a very proud native New Jerseyan, and beyond that, a very proud New Jersey based composer and educator. With this selection, I wanted to pay tribute to the outstanding student musicians and music educators that we have in the Garden State. While New Jersey is the third smallest state in the US, it is by far the most populated. Even still, arts programs thrive in many areas as our residents find value in arts education. New Jersey boasts some of the strongest school music programs in the Northeast. Furthermore, the NJMEA (New Jersey Music Education Association) stresses the important of “access” to music education saying, “the quality and quantity of music instruction should not be a result of social status, racial or ethnic status, urban/suburban/rural status, or parental or community wealth.” I couldn’t agree more.
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Yuletide Riptide
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Yuletide Riptide incorporates infectious rhythmic grooves and creative interpretations of holiday favorites. The introduction juxtaposes a Jingle Bells chord cluster with the bold melodic content of The Holly and the Ivy before setting sail on an incredibly strong current of metric interplay. The main carol employed for the A section is God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. This classic selection is underscored in a unique way while remaining recognizable and pleasurable. The B section provides a rather original interpretation of Jingle Bells. Other carols that decorate the expansive melodic and harmonic texture include Greensleeves, Deck the Halls, Twelve Days of Christmas and more!
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Sound Paints the Sky
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Sound Paints the Sky was commissioned and premiered by the Hanover Wind Symphony (NJ) in celebration of their 35th Anniversary in 2020. The Hanover Wind Symphony has been a staple in the band community of northern New Jersey for many years having been “born out of the spirit of the community” in 1985. Throughout the process of writing a piece to celebrate the their anniversary, I found myself coming back to a specific pair of attributes that ultimately provided the inspiration for the score; legacy and spirit. Both of these images are ever-present in the Native American legend of the “Indian paintbrush.” In this story, a young artist desires to paint an awe-inspiring sunset that regularly fills his sky but lacks the colors to do so. One day, out of the grey clouds, a vision of his tribal predecessors tells him to use his given talents to serve his people and he will accomplish great things.
Future Releases