– Concert Orchestral Works –

The Bedford Suite

by Modern Songbook Records | Feb 6, 2012 | Concert Orchestral Works, Orchestral & Chamber

Are All 4th of July And Other Patriotic Concerts Created Equal?

Not necessarily! Whether it’s Independence Day, Veterans’ Day, Memorial Day or just ANY day, a concert of all music is nice, but here’s something a little different to add to the mix… The Bedford Suite.

This 25-minute piece for orchestra and two actors is both patriotic and emotional. It draws on music scored for the award-winning documentary film BEDFORD: THE TOWN THEY LEFT BEHIND and actual love letters exchanged by two characters in the film: a man and wife separated by WWII after their brief 8-day honeymoon. He was one of the very first to land on the beach on D-Day, while she waited desperately for news of his fate at home in the small town of Bedford, Virginia. The music includes rousing battle motifs, romantic waltzes and a majestic main theme. The premiere performance in Washington, DC received both tears and strong praise from audience and orchestra members alike.

Music and dialogue are fully integrated and simple to coordinate within standard rehearsals. The conductor’s score includes cues for the two readers, who are positioned at music stands with microphones.

1348

by Modern Songbook Records | Feb 6, 2012 | Concert Orchestral Works, Orchestral & Chamber

Duration: 18 min

Minimum orchestra required: 2 fl(picc), 2 ob(EH), 2 cl, 2bsn, 3 trp, 4 hrn, 3 trb, tba, 3 perc, timp, harp, strings
1348 was the worst year of the plague. The population of medieval Europe was nearly cut in half over the course of a few years. There are many strange parallels between the 14th century and our own: a belief that the apocalypse is near, a surge in religious fundamentalism, an unexplained and incurable pestilence. I would just refer the curious to Barbara Tuchman’s brilliant history, A Distant Mirror. Why I felt this was something to write music about is something that will have to remain between my therapist and myself.
Click here to download the score.

Knitting A Building

by Modern Songbook Records | Feb 6, 2012 | Concert Orchestral Works, Orchestral & Chamber

Stream the music:

Over Changing Leaves

by Modern Songbook Records | Feb 6, 2012 | Concert Orchestral Works, Orchestral & Chamber

2005 – 1 Movement – Duration: 3 minutes

Minimum orchestra required: 2 fl (picc), 2 ob, 2 cl, bsn, 3 trp, 4 hrn, 3 trb, tba, 3 perc, timp, harp, strings

Description: A miniature that would be a beautiful encore. I would love to have someone play this piece again. (It has only been played once)

The Tarot

by Modern Songbook Records | Feb 6, 2012 | Concert Orchestral Works, Orchestral & Chamber

2004 – 5 Movements – Duration: 42 minutes

Minimum orchestra required: 2 fl(picc), 2 ob (EH), 2 cl, 2bsn, 3 trp, 4 hrn, 3 trb, tba, 3 perc, timp, harp, strings

Description: Five movements, each based on a card from the tarot deck. Although it has not been done, I have always thought that it would be cool to have a local luminary draw the cards from the conductor’s hand and then project them behind the orchestra (they are very colorful) and then play the movements in the order they were drawn. Below are the movements as performed by the Capital City Symphony.