Music

Grade: 5 (ish)
SCORE (PDF)
Instrumentation
Duration: 5'00"

Radiant Joy (2006)

Commissioned by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Jack Stamp, conductor
Premiere: October 15th, 2006, Indiana University of Pennsylvania Wind Ensemble

Winner of the 2007 National Band Association William D. Revelli Contest

Radiant Joy was my first new work for winds after two and a half years away, and one that I hope is equal to its title in character and purity of intent. It comes after a difficult period in my personal life, and thus its character was something of a surprise to me. This work began life as a strict, 12-tone, serialized creature modeled on Webern - I wanted something sparse and tightly constructed (in harmonic and intervallic terms), while still retaining a vital rhythmic pulse. After several sketches that ended in anger and frustration, I realized I was metaphorically banging my head against the creative wall, and perhaps I should stop forcing this music into existence with a prescriptive process, and simply listen inwardly to what I actually wanted to hear. The result is simultaneously the opposite of what I was originally trying to create, and also its direct realization - the vital rhythmic pulse is still prominent, but the harmonic materials veered toward the language of 70s/80s funk/jazz/fusion (at least, that's what I've been told). Regardless, the piece is intended to emanate joy and 'good vibes' (literally - the vibraphone is critical to the piece!), for the performers, the audience, and the composer!

Orchestra

Professional

Educational/Youth

Band

Professional

Medium / Difficult

Educational/Youth

Mixed