I compose music for instrumental musicians whose talents I am overwhelmed by! And I have been fortunate enough to have these friends ask me to compose a piece for them. Violin and piano; flute and clarinet; soprano sax, trumpet and horn; a woodwind quintet and two brass quintets. There is also a piece for large chamber ensemble with narration, “The Dancing Ghost Lady of Coal Canyon,” that shows how I’ve been influenced by Native American culture of the Southwest. “What Would Nina Simone Say?” is a work for soprano sax and organ. It was fashioned after my fascination with the legendary Simone, who also just happened to grow up in my hometown of Tryon, NC.

Clarinet & piano (10′)

1. The Pulse of an Irishman

2. The Lass of Aughrim

3. The Raggle, Taggle Gypsy

Flute & piano (10′)

1. Wupatki

2. Dineh Song of Friendship (In memoriam Michael Sullivan)

3. Wind

I. Moderato

II. Andante Espressivo

III. Allegro Giocoso Part 1

III. Allegro Giocoso Part 2

Brass Quintet (10′)

1. Cerberus

2. Argos

3. Laelaps

– Based on poems by Michael Collier with powerpoint presentation

Woodwind Quintet with narration (11′)

1. The Singing Goat
2. The Dog Who Lost His Tail
3. The Talking Plate
4. The Love-Sick Elephant
5. The Generous Tree
6. The Acrobatic Flea

Flute, Oboe, Alto Saxophone, Percussion, Timpani, Harp, Piano, Viola & Cello
Narrator*

1. Introduction
2. Memories of the First Dance
3. Searching
4. She Jumps, Trying to Reach the Moon

Soprano Saxophone & Organ

Pianos Eight Hands

Violin & Piano

Trumpet in C & Piano

Flute & Clarinet

1. Questioning with hesitation

2. Slowly and freely with rubato

3. Snappy and perky!

4. Tenderly, with much sensitivity

5. Nagging relentlessly

6. Aggressively insistent

I. Slane
II. Aunt Nancy’s Dance
III. Fantasy on an Old Negro Spiritual

Cello & Piano

1. Dark Rhapsody

2. Pensive Reverie

3. Volare (After a poem by Douglas Atwill)

4. …the musical white spring (After a poem by E. E. Cummings)