Music for Brass and Percussion

The Strings Music Festival Brass & Percussion Ensemble will premiere an arrangement of African-American spirituals written to feature James Jenkins, principal tubist with the Jacksonville Symphony. I wrote a somewhat different arrangement of the same songs, “Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child” and “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho,” a couple of years ago for James’ Germany tour with the Ukrainian Chamber Orchestra.

International Premiere

My composition “Peña Amaya” for wind ensemble will be performed at the upcoming World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE) Conference in Valencia, Spain.

This piece evokes memories of an afternoon hike along the mountain trails of Peña Amaya, which is located in the province of Burgos in northern Spain. After learning of the historical significance of this landmark, with all of its ancient and medieval ruins, and after hearing a work from the Codex Las Huelgas, a medieval manuscript of Gregorian chants with origins in the region, I was inspired to compose this piece.

Dr. Erin Bodnar will conduct the University of North Florida Wind Symphony in its performance at the conference in July.