Compositions

I am sometimes motivated intrinsically or I may be stimulated by the opportunity to write music that is meaningful for an individual or ensemble. I always place myself in the “listener’s chair” as I begin to draft ideas for a new work. Organizing musical and/or poetic ideas in a logical way can dramatically help draw an audience in as active participants. One should never underestimate the power of a well-crafted melodic line. Am I then able to add a passel of harmonic twists, layered textures, interesting counterpoint and subtle rhythmic variations?

Composition Library

BAND

Boiling Springs (2008)

Commissioned by the Boiling Springs High School Band in honor of director Jeffrey Noble's retirement after 40 years as director of bands in the South Middleton School District.

Mount Gretna (2006)

Commissioned by PMEA District 7 for its annual Youth Band and Orchestra Fest. In memory of music educator Rodney Miller (1955-2005)

Belair Blue and White (2006)

Commissioned by the Belair (Maryland) High School Reunion Band. Ray Dombrowski, conductor.

Jubilee Day (2003)

Commissioned by the Wildcat Foundation and the Mechanicsburg Area School District. In celebration of the opening of the new Mechanicsburg Middle School. Includes parts for 3 voice choir (SAB), piano and narrator. Dale Hoke and Gary Weber, directors.

Penn Street Green (2002)

Commissioned by the Carlisle Area School District in honor of the 75^th anniversary of the Carlisle High School Band. Davie Rohrer, director.

Cedar Cliff Celebration Overture (1999)

Commissioned by the West Shore School District in celebration of the re-opening of the renovated Cedar Cliff High School. David Knott, director.

Dewi's (St. David’s) Day (1995)

Commissioned for the 1996 Adams County Junior High School Band Festival. Based on three Welsh folk songs. John William Jones, director.

Midwinter Overture (1994)

Commissioned by Swatara Junior High School in Central Dauphin School District. Mick Cochran, director.

Kumbla Dances (1993)

Commissioned by the Mechanicsburg Area High School Band Boosters to celebrate its 1994 Fiesta Bowl appearance. Michael Snyder, director.

A Bright Sky (1990)

Commissioned by the Millersville University Symphonic Band. Keith Wiley, director.

Variations On An Ancient Irish Song (1986)

Gigue, loure and fantasy & chorale based on “Be Thou My Vision.”

MIXED ENSEMBLES

Swedish Samba (2010)

Commissioned by the Gerald Christianson family for the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra and jazz quintet

For The People (2009) Text and composer's notes

Dedicated to The Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College in Celebration of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial. An oratorio for brass band, soprano, tenor, baritone, and woodwind octet. Link to PA Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission

Winter Presence (2008)

Dedicated to the Gettysburg College Choir and director Robert Natter. Text from British poet Stephen Leake's Presence.

Caldey Variants (2007)

A theme and variations commissioned by the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra for Metropolitan Opera Orchestra violist Mary Hammann and the GCO.

Meet Me At The Majestic! The Road To Yesterday (2005)

Dedicated to Gettysburg College and the Adams County community. In celebration of the grand re-opening of the Majestic Theater on its 80^th anniversary. Orchestra, SATB choir, jazz quartet and narrator. Rob Natter, conductor.

Glory Ridge (2001)

Commissioned by the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg and the Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra to honor the 175^th anniversary of the founding of the seminary. A cantata in five movements for chamber orchestra, SATB choir, percussion, and soloists. Norman Nunamaker, conductor.

A Stephen Foster Tribute (1998)

An arrangement of four Foster tunes for 16 mixed winds and strings, soprano and baritone.

Wales: Land Of My Fathers (1997)

Three trioedds (triads) for orchestra, SATB choir, soloists, harp, and narrator. A collection of arrangements of Welsh folks songs, hymn tunes and original music from “The Land of Song.” John William Jones, conductor and Beth Phillips Brown, Celtic storyteller.

Grant Us Wisdom: A Centennial Celebration (1992)

Commissioned by Grace Lutheran Church in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania in celebration of its 100^th anniversary. SATB choir, brass quintet and organ.

CHAMBER MUSIC

A Welsh Triptych (2009) flute and organ Link to Augsburg Fortress Publications

Published by Augsburg Press in 2012.

Blackbird (2007)

Arrangement of the Lennon/McCartney classic for the Aureole Trio's Beatles tribute CD release in 2008. Flute, viola and harp.

I Shall Be Gone (2005)

For Jennifer Myers, Gettysburg College Class of 2005. Clarinet, tenor and piano. On the Robert Frost poem “The Sound of the Trees.”

Juxtaposition (1997)

For the United State Army Brass Band “Pershings Own.” Captain Timothy Holtan, director. British brass band instrumentation. Orchestration of a 1980 brass quintet.

Promenade and Danza (1995)

For Ann Felter, Gettysburg College Class of 1995. Oboe, bassoon and piano.

Sackbut Sketches (1993)

Composed for the trombone quartet, Die Posaunen.

A Captured Sunset (1975- rev.1992)

For soprano, cello, and piano on the Carl Sandburg poem “Monotone.”

Rondo For Winds and Percussion (1991)

Flute, 2 Bb clarinets, bassoon, and percussion.

Romanze (1989)

Woodwind quintet.

Summertime (1980)

Arranged for woodwind quintet.

Azul (1974)

Woodwind quintet.

JAZZ

Bone (2009)

Commissioned by the Mechanicsburg Area School district in honor of Dale Hoke's career as a music teacher. Solo trombone and big band.

Axiom Asunder (2004) Axiom Asunder review

"Axiom Asunder" is available for download at http://cdbaby.com/cd/mjazzorchestra

Four Episodes for jazz orchestra, dance company, choir and narrator – Oceans Apart, Northern Tangents, Coast to Coast, and Groove Machine. Poetry of Langston Hughes serves as a narrative thread. The music traces the development of American Jazz from its early days in New Orleans and as it migrated north to Chicago, Kansas City, New York and the West Coast.

I Saw Her Standing There (2003)

Arranged for the Glenelg (MD) High School Jazz Ensemble. Barry Enzman, director.

Cape Roca (1997)

For Denis DiBlasio and the Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble. Buzz Jones, director.

The Euro Shuffle (1994)

For the Buzz Jones Big Band’s 1995 European tour and performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival.