Strange Internal Thoughts (2024)
2024 - Program Note
While in between projects, I was preparing for a trip to Washington State University for the premiere of my Symphony No. 1 "Annapurna", to be conducted by my friend Jonathan Sweet. Since I was visiting for the performance, Jon and I were talking about finding another one of my works that would be a good fit for the other band at WSU. We weren't sure my other pieces in my catalog would work so I offered to write a new piece; Jon was not sure since there was a two work turnaround but I took it upon myself as a challenge to get something done as a gift for him. Originally, the work began as a difficulty grade 3-4 concept, but....sometimes the musical material demands something different and the piece spiraled out of control a bit and landed a bit more challenging than originally anticipated. With non-commissioned passion projects this can sometimes happen...
Sorry, Jon!
I have had the title "Strange" on a list of potential titles for several years - not exactly sure how I would use the word. Having just finished my 3rd symphony, I wanted to write something with more levity and humor than my past few works and so the word "strange" felt appropriate; being at a strange point in my career as a simultaneous high school educator and independent publisher, as well as my expanding harmonic vocabulary. I originally began this piece by writing the entire ending first as an improvisation through a DAW and sound library, notating, and then pulling the material from there to craft the rest of the work (this isn't my usual procedure). The resulting work includes a variety of unexpected chords, oddly intervallic melodies, and yet still singable. As my friend and composer Robert Langenfeld wrote of the piece: "it's like Danny Elfman wrote a concert band piece while studying with Stravinsky". I'll take that as a compliment.
While in between projects, I was preparing for a trip to Washington State University for the premiere of my Symphony No. 1 "Annapurna", to be conducted by my friend Jonathan Sweet. Since I was visiting for the performance, Jon and I were talking about finding another one of my works that would be a good fit for the other band at WSU. We weren't sure my other pieces in my catalog would work so I offered to write a new piece; Jon was not sure since there was a two work turnaround but I took it upon myself as a challenge to get something done as a gift for him. Originally, the work began as a difficulty grade 3-4 concept, but....sometimes the musical material demands something different and the piece spiraled out of control a bit and landed a bit more challenging than originally anticipated. With non-commissioned passion projects this can sometimes happen...
Sorry, Jon!
I have had the title "Strange" on a list of potential titles for several years - not exactly sure how I would use the word. Having just finished my 3rd symphony, I wanted to write something with more levity and humor than my past few works and so the word "strange" felt appropriate; being at a strange point in my career as a simultaneous high school educator and independent publisher, as well as my expanding harmonic vocabulary. I originally began this piece by writing the entire ending first as an improvisation through a DAW and sound library, notating, and then pulling the material from there to craft the rest of the work (this isn't my usual procedure). The resulting work includes a variety of unexpected chords, oddly intervallic melodies, and yet still singable. As my friend and composer Robert Langenfeld wrote of the piece: "it's like Danny Elfman wrote a concert band piece while studying with Stravinsky". I'll take that as a compliment.