Cold Frosty Morning
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I wanted to arrange this tune for the longest time. I downloaded an mp3 from iTunes (yes, it was that long ago) and listened over and over, imagining what it could look like as a band tune. It's got this cool Appalachian groove to it. This arrangement was premiered in 2023 at the Region One Band Clinic in SC. I recommend checking out some of the banjo/folk versions. It's such a great tune, and there's a wide variety of interpretations. Bela Fleck has a killer version titled Frosty Morning.
If you decide to play the arrangement, see if you can get your band to that light "swing" feel on the eighths... can be tough to pull off but it defintely grooves. |
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Compton Bridge March
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The drive on Compton Bridge Road in Inman, South Carolina is stunningly beautiful. The rolling hills extend as far as the eye can see. The sunset is especially breathtaking, as the warm rays of the sun envelop the hills. I often take this route on my way to North Carolina and feel that it looks like Copland sounds. So when my good friend Kevin Horton asked me to write a concert march for his band, I knew I wanted to weave in the beauty of where his school resides. I opted to write what I’m calling a “pastoral” march, using harmonies and melodies that evoke a sense of Americana. I especially went for lushness in the trio-like section. Lastly, this is definitely not a traditional march, but it contains all of the elements needed to teach march style and form… a great way to change things up!
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Shadowlands
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The title says it all. This is dark and mysterious piece of music. The opening section is as though you're wandering through a bleak landscape, illustrated by minor melodies and chord combinations. The piece then kicks it up a notch to a very fast paced and sometimes very aggressive section of music. There's a lot of momentum passed through the the sections of the band, including an 8 bar percussion feature (did I mention there are a LOT of percussion parts). The end is much brighter and optimistic...making it out of the Shadowlands! (NOTE: maybe on the "medium/easy side" of medium) |
Ancient Ruins
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Ancient Ruins is a piece for concert/symphonic band in the Medium-Easy to Medium range (categorized here because it is definitely more difficult than the ME section). The music begins with a flute solo echoed by a baritone/euphonium solo. It then develops into sonorous, modal melodies and harmonies. After a climactic exposition, the becomes fast and aggressive as though one is adventuring through the jungle, exploring ancient ruins and dodging any dangers that arrives. There is a "percussion feature" section as well as a mini-canon featuring primarily woodwinds.
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