Midwest 2023

Qualifying Scores for Performance at Midwest 2023

Concert Band

This lush work takes an original lullaby and transforms it into a gorgeous and moving song without words. In rondo form (ABACA), this work allows your students to sing, play with sensitivity, and perform tall and added-note chords. It also provides opportunities for the students to understand motivic and melodic development.

MIDI Demo

CCU Symphonic Band Premiere

Composed in memory of those players who are no longer with the ensemble, this sweeping, emotional piece is an excerpt from the Tuesday Night Overture, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the Tualatin Valley Community Band.

MIDI Demo

Like ships emerging out of the midst, this music describes the arrival of the mythical Tuatha de Danaan to the shores of Ancient Ireland. The music is mystical, mysterious, and lyrical while featuring moments of intensity as if one were standing on ancient battlefields along with the heroes.

MIDI Demo

The Wexford Carol is a 12th Century Irish Christmas tune. This strikingly beautiful arrangement features soaring parts and contrapuntal writing for all the sections. It is perfect for all holiday and winter-themed concerts.

MIDI Demo

LCCB Premiere

The march-like qualities of the opening fanfare give way to a fast and thrilling work your students will love to play. It features polychords, ostinatos, fast flute flourishes, and energetic percussion parts. With hints of Holst and Mussorgsky, this single-movement work makes a great concert closer and will engage and challenge your percussionists.

MIDI Demo

Jazz Band

A swing tune that features solos for piano, tenor sax, trumpet, and soli sax section. 

MIDI Demo – Excerpts

Orchestra

It is a sunny morning after our evening stroll around the lake and along the Greenway Trail in Tualatin Oregon. Dew drips from the leaves, and along the river, birds begin to sing. We hear frogs call to each other, and see turtles slowly exploring the swirling river eddies. Joggers run by and dogs eagerly lead their people to the dog park. Not far away, the lake is active with
people walking and enjoying the early sunshine, toddlers try to catch the protesting ducks, and people—some from far off and exotic places—wander aimlessly, led here by games on their cellphones. We might even see people setting up for the City’s festivals, which include food, fun, music, and… yes, even people paddling on the lake inside the shells of giant pumpkins!

MIDI Demo

String Orchestra

This exciting, fun, and short arrangement of a traditional Irish tune will allow you to work on hooked bowing, fiddle-style playing, compound meter, and a giant rolled chord in the final measure.

MIDI Demo

Composed to be an example of “sonata allegro” form. The work is also composed with two nods to the compositional style of John Williams, with a repeated rhytmic motif and with use of complex (i.e., “jazz”) chords. This piece was originally composed to be the first movement of a string quartet, and is here arranged for full string orchestra.

MIDI Demo

Premiere Performance, Tualatin Valley Symphony, Feb. 5, 2023

Rondo Pesante gives string players the opportunity for heavier and more aggressive playing, with an unwavering and accented pulse throughout. The piece follows a simple Rondo form (ABACA), with clear changes in style and texture at each new section. For student ensembles, this piece offers the opportunity for students to learn more about common musical forms while broadening their performance pallets.

MIDI Demo

What would happen if a spider decided that cars were just great big bugs and she wanted to catch one? “Amber the Ambitious Spider” answers that question with a narrated musical tale for string orchestra and optional harp and percussion — complete with illustrated slides.

(A shortened suite of music from this work is planned for publication late 2023 and would be available for performance.)

“Persevering” is meant to convey a sense of continuing on through adversity. The COVID-19 Pandemic was the impetus for writing this piece, but the sentiment certainly expands beyond that to different times and types of adversity.

The Wexford Carol is a 12th Century Irish Christmas tune. This strikingly beautiful arrangement for string ensemble features soaring parts and contrapuntal writing for all the sections. It is perfect for all holiday and winter-themed concerts.

MIDI Demo

A festive piece for strings that carries a constant feeling of optimism throughout. The piece is based on a single motive that goes through rhythmic and melodic manipulation, allowing the music to convey different characteristic moods, ranging from exciting and celebratory to feelings of peace and contentment.

MIDI Demo

Brass Quintet

Underneath their manic, juggling, comic exterior, the Jester feels deeply.

MIDI Demo

A driving, bold fanfare in irregular meter gives a fresh take on this familiar Easter hymn.

MIDI Demo

A heroic fanfare expressing both cheer and poignancy. Arranged for brass quintet by the composer.

MIDI Demo