The Sky Searching Within Itself

Grade 4 on the instrumental grading scale

Instrumentation:

piccolo, 2 flutes, oboe, English Horn, 3 clarinets, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, 2 alto saxophones, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, 3 trumpets, 4 horns, 3 trombones, euphonium, tubas, harp, timpani

Percussion 1: Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Chimes, Marimba
Percussion 2: Triangles 1 and 2, Large Suspended Cymbal
Percussion 3: Triangles 3 and 4, Bass Drum, Tam-tam

Program Notes

What is loss? And how do we deal with it? And when we look up at the sky to contemplate these feelings, what are we searching for? Or do we allow the sky to search itself for the deeper meaning and reveal itself to us? ‘The Sky Searching Within Itself’ is a piece that asks these questions and meditates on the journey to find the answers. In the form of ‘rhapsody-ballad’, the composition begins as though it is lost in thought, and throughout, weaves its way through a range of different emotions, from the depressing to the somewhat hopeful and accepting.

It was commissioned by KMFA 89.5 in memory of Draylen Mason (whom my yearlong residency with the radio station was named after) and dedicated with gratitude to Prof. Jerry Junkin and the University of Texas Wind Ensemble.

‍