Symphony No. 1, My Hands Are a City
As the scent of spring rain...

for wind ensemble
(2003)
Duration: 6'
PROFESSIONAL
2Fl, Ob, 3Clar, BClar, CbClar, Bsn, 2ASax, TSax, BSax, 3Trpt, 2Hn, 2Trb, BTrb, Euph, Tba, Cb, Harp(Pno), 5Perc (Glock/Vibr/Mar/TubBells/CrystGlass/BowlGong/SusCym/BD/MTree)
Parts available for hire. Score available for sale from OK Feel Good Music, or from Shattinger Music.
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As the scent of spring rain... comes from a translation of the evocative first line of a love poem by Israeli poet Leah Goldberg. The poem itself was introduced to me by a good friend of mine a number of years ago, and I have a strong memory of how much the beauty of the original Hebrew and the imagery in her translation touched me. Because of that I deliberately did not work from the poem itself but only from my memory of it, which was so special to me that I didn't want to disturb it with a re-reading which would create a new and different experience. As a result, the harmonic language, structure, and orchestration all aim to conjure the intense juxtaposition of sweetness and sadness which I most remember from the poem.
An errata list is available to correct early editions of this work.
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RECENT PERFORMANCES
Western Illinois University Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Western Illinois University Recital Hall / Macomb, IL, Dr. Matt Thomas, conductor - Apr 14 2012
Palm Beach Atlantic University Symphonic Band, Vera Lea Rinker Hall / West Palm Beach, FL, David M. Jacobs, conductor - Apr 13 2012
Drury University Wind Symphony, Clara Thompson Hall, Springfield, MO, Dr. Christopher Koch, conductor - Nov 29 2011