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Interlude for String Orchestra

Nov. 2023 Update: Interlude for String Orchestra has been revised and is now about 2 1/2 minutes longer than the video!

I had three goals in mind while writing this piece: use and develop some motives, move from darkness to light, and make the ending beautiful. There are a few empty measures where I wanted the music to have time to breathe. Overall playing time seems to be about 6:44.

I used some poly-tonality here and there, but there are also pop music influences to help ease the tension! Please contact me if you would like to perform this piece. Thanks for listening!

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March Fantasy for Low Brass Quartet

Written for a standard band or orchestra low brass section, this piece also sounds excellent with all parts doubled. An opening fanfare leads into a toe-tapping march, followed by a fugue reminiscent of Bach, a tuba recitative and solo, a recap of the march, and a majestic finale. The bass trombone part could be played on a tenor trombone, but both 2nd and 3rd trombone will need F attachments. In the recording I played the tuba part on my euphonium, then EQ’d it a bit to sound more tuba-ish. It’s not too bad, but apologies to my tuba-playing friends!

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Symphony Low Brass

Like our colleagues around the world, the Victoria Symphony musicians love to dress up when given an opportunity! Here’s a photo from this year’s Halloween concert: Music That Goes ‘Bump’ in the Night!

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An Eagle’s Tale for Orchestra (Bird Suite No. 5)

With the final movement of Bird Suite I tried to capture a typical day in an eagle’s life, with some soaring, hunting, relaxing on a tree branch, flying off into the sunset – the usual eagle-ish activities. I don’t know a lot about Indigenous music, but there is a brass chorale that suggests it, at least to my ears.

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A Christmas Wish for Brass Quartet, SATB Choir, Sleigh Bells and Organ

A few months ago I saw a forum post asking about Christmas music for brass and choir. There weren’t a lot of suggestions, so I decided to write something! The vocal range is fine for most church choirs, with words based on a Christmas poem by Dave Dogterom. If you have a Christmas gig for brass quintet, your horn player can take a break and play sleigh bells! The sheet music is available at www.musicforbrass.com