FIREDREAMS

Program Note

Fire Dreams, inspired by the Carl Sandburg poem “Fire Dreams,” was a reflection on my twelve years living in New York City. The image of fire conjured the bustling world of New York and its continually changing face, reflecting the city that never stays still. It was commissioned by the Long Beach Symphony under Joann Falletta and was later played by the Fargo Moorhead Symphony under Joel Revzen.

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Fire Dreams is a short high energy work with a reflective middle section. The opening two bar musical phrase progresses complete and in fragments through the entire work. The middle section highlights the flute over a thinner orchestral texture. This gives way to the original opening energy in the final portion of the work where we hear a new theme presented in a repeating passacaglia phrase. This is first heard in the horn then later throughout the orchestra as it builds with growing orchestral color. In the last few bars it returns to a repeat of the opening theme.

Poems of the Night

Program Note

These songs were set to poems of Spanish poet and playwright Federico García Lorca. They were recommended to me by a friend and I immediately fell in love with the imagery and depth of emotion they create. I crafted a grouping based on similar themes and the setting of night.

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PIANO TRIO

Program Note

This one movement work was created using two opposing themes, one based on a 12-tone row, the other a lyrical tonal melody. I wanted the instruments to be able to soar without feeling bound to an intellectual musical structure and this lyricism was a primary goal. The interplay and integration of the melodic elements was created to allow them to interplay and comment on each other ultimately resulting in a musical compromise and tonal agreement.

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Nightscape

Program Note

Nightscape is a musical poem evoking the night, both serene and turbulent. The music heard in the first measures in the low strings is transformed throughout the work in size and intensity. It builds to a musical climax as the piece moves toward a glorious sunrise ending.

EPISTLE

Program Note

In this hauntingly beautiful poem “Epistle to be Left in the Earth,” written by Archibald MacLeish, he conjures an almost science fiction image of a world out of control with no likely chance of survival. When I first read it, I was struck by the impossibility of the images, yet at the same time I was drawn into the emotion of the people facing an uncertain future. It creates obvious parallels to our current global concerns.

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Piano trio

This was a work based on two very dfiierent themes, one atonal in structure ant the other more tonally based.

ENTANGLLEMENTS

Program Note

Entanglements is an artistic take on the scientific concept of connectedness. Samples are used to blend traditional techniques for clarinet, marimba, piano with electronics. Melodic ideas interacting over time is a bedrock of most forms of music. Within this metaphor of connection, I found the basis for an energetic work. It allows for shared musical properties and artistic fate, analogous to particles sharing connection at the quantum level.

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RESONANCES

Program Note

Resonances is the first in a series of hybrid compositions exploring the intersection of the acoustic, sampled acoustic and the electronic sounds. I initially thought of the resonance of a string, how it leads to overtones and interactions with other resonant bodies. The generation of sound that we perceive requires a similar process whether it is created live, recorded or developed synthetically. I used this thought to begin this first work more than a decade before finishing it. It has served as an artistic starting point for me to pursue other similar works.

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SWIRL

Program Note

Swirl was written as a work of life affirmation based on recollections of a departed friend. It’s a single-movement work in 12/8 meter which attempts to create a joyous, dance-like quality over a "swirling," rhythmically continuous accompaniment.

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October Paint

Program Note

The title October Paint comes from the Carl Sandburg poem of the same name. Autumnal in spirit, it is written with coloristic musical ideas and two primary musical motives. The first motive is a three-note fragment heard in the vibraphone. The second motive is an ascending scale heard in the following presto section. The music becomes increasingly contrapuntal as we move into the final section where a sustained slow melody is periodically interrupted by faster musical passages which take over, leading to a frantic vibrant climax in the last few measures.

BRASS QUINTET

Program Note

This was written for the Saturday Brass Quintet, to show their skill and range of expression. It alternates between lush sustained chords and energetic rhythmic passages.

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Requiem For Young Soldiers Op.20 - (1990)

Program Note

This work was based on the poem “The Young Dead Soldiers Do Not Speak” by Archibald MacLeish. The evocative nature of this poem really speaks to the importance of honoring those who serve and make sacrifices for a higher cause. This text easily lends itself to a musical setting.

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Piano Sonata

This was an attempt at a virtuoso work for piano in the spirit of Prokofiev and Beethoven. Luckily I was able to find a pianist in Mirian Conti who was up to the challenge.

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Distant Thunder

Program Note

Distant Thunder was inspired by the watercolors of Andrew Wyeth. The first and last of its three movements carry the title of a Wyeth painting. The moods of the movements come directly from the inspiration provided by the paintings. The first and third movements draw on these tensions.

The first movement has a rising seven-note theme, heard first in the bassoon, which ushers in a serene, contemplative soundscape. This is soon followed by building energy in the brass section, later replaced by its lyrical conclusion.

The second movement is a variation on the first movement theme. It uses a lyrical, repeating figure first heard in the oboe. This is varied and repeated in different sections of the orchestra. The final restatement is again heard with the oboe.

The final movement takes the opening motive and inverts it as a descending theme in the trombone. This, along with other short musical ideas, is woven into a high-energy, thunderous climax and conclusion.

Sudden Windows

Program Note

Sudden Windows was written for conductor John Dodson and performed with the Bryan Symphony at Tennessee Tech. University.

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THE MONKEYS PAW

Program Note

''The Monkey's Paw,'' is a one act opera based on the short story by W. W. Jacobs, which tells the tale of wishes gone awry. The libretto is by Edward Berkeley's and was described by the New York Times as setting “ the perfect tone - terrified, but not overdone” It was originally written for an 11 piece orchestra, but has been rewritten for an alternate ensemble of Cello, Piano, percussion and electronics.

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WESLEY

Program Note

The Musical Wesley was first produced at The Theater Center, New York City. Off Broadway. Music and Lyrics by Scott Steidl, Book by Mark Hantoot and Mary Duncan.

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