FOUNDATIONS

Commissioned by francisco maia, jean goméz, & the utpb orchestra

for symphony orchestra | 10’ | 2023

Instrumentation - Flute I-II | Oboe I-II (I dbl. Eng. Hn.) | Clarinet I-II | Bassoon I-II | Horn in F I-IV | Trumpet I-III | Tenor Trombone I-II | Bass Trombone | Tuba | Timpani | Percussion I-IV | Strings

Premiered in April 2023 by the University of Texas Permian Basin Orchestra

Difficulty

Intermediate - Moderate

Program Note

FOUNDATIONS defines the current state of my craft. Though at the time of this work, I’ve only been writing music for 6 years, I’ve gathered so many musical bits of wisdom across that time and before that have driven me to where I am as a writer today. This work outlines and fills the blanks on many of the influences I carry with me, the ones that have changed me as a person and composer alike. Some of these have been quite recent – I do what I can to keep my playlists updated and my tastes aligned, so discovering new music is always a treat. Some, though, were what made me want to compose in the first place.

 I first knew I wanted to compose music when I heard a very specific work at a wind ensemble concert at the Beinen School of Music at Northwestern – back when I was in high school. That piece, since that very day, remains my favorite work of all time, and one of my greatest compositional influences.

 This piece, to me, stands as a tribute to that work – the foundation of what I do now. As well, it represents the base upon what the future of my work might build upon.

 I want to thank my friends, Francisco Maia and Jean Gómez, for entrusting me with creating this work for them.