Symphony for Winds and Percussion

Description

The Symphony for Winds and Percussion was started in 1984 while my wife and I were living on north Padre Island in Corpus Christi, Texas. The initial work consisted of reading material by and about Federico Garcia Lorca. As with much of my work, the first spark of creativity came from the written word. Work continued with Fisher Tull at Sam Houston State University while I was working on my Master of Music degree. The original title was Homage to Ignacia Mejia and it was at Dr. Tull’s suggestion that I changed it to Symphony No. 1. While in preparation for the first performance, conductor Eddie Green felt that, with the extended percussion, the title would be more descriptive if called Symphony for Winds and Percussion. The subtitle “When things are still” and the titles of the three movements (1. Shadow of the afternoon, II. Even the sea dies! and III. Sing his elegance in words that moan) are all from the poetry of Lorca. The premiere performance was October 16, 1989 by the University of Houston Wind Ensemble, Eddie Green conducting. The work is “lovingly dedicated to my wife, Cay and my dear friends Richard Kole and Eddie Green.”

Published by: RBC Publications