Music

Grade: A Prime
Duration: 7'45"

RedLine (1999)

Premiered by John Pastin and the Rowan State University Wind Ensemble, December 1st, 2005

This is the wind ensemble version of the piano piece of the same name. This is quite possibly the most difficult piece I've ever written (though not by design), and is a play on the idea of "red-lining" an engine (i.e. pushing something to its limits) and the 1/9 subway ("red") line in New York City, which goes by Juilliard, where I work. It's a fast, densely crowded train. The piece reflects the combination of these two ideas, and pushes the ensemble to the edge of endurance and energy.

More discussion of this piece, including a free download of both versions of the score, can be found on the BCM Discussion Forum.

There's a more recent, similarly titled work, Redline Tango, by my old friend and fellow Juilliard alum, John Mackey. There's no musical relationship between the pieces.

Orchestra

Band

Mixed