Concert Band Releases
Many Moons
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All of us have experienced moments in our lives that create unforgettable images. These mental snapshots can often provide humor, comfort, or inspire us to new heights. Many Moons is inspired by such a moment (and ironically the experience was “many moons” ago). As a young adult, while traveling with, who are now, old friends I witnessed a New Mexico night sky for the very first time. We were so taken with the view, that we pulled our rental car to the side of the highway just to stand and stare skyward. The clarity and size of the stars redefined my understanding of our place in this vast universe. To my eye, I was staring at hundreds of little moons. In writing this piece, I wanted to capture this feeling of beauty, wonder, and humility.
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.