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This piece for brass quintet started life as a somewhat awkward mixed-meter groove. I began to layer different textures over the top and when I played some of it for my wife, she said it sounded like traffic. I took that idea and went with it.

Road Rage consists of several different scenes in a standard daily commute. Imagine you’re in a traffic helicopter watching from above, with each instrument featured as we focus attention on each vehicle before returning to the opening thematic material to end the work.

In order to help you visualize the scene: Tuba = a semi-truck, just moving along at its own pace, maybe a bit hopped up on No-Doz to make it to the end of the route; Horn = sports car, zooming through traffic just a bit too fast; Trombone = an emergency vehicle, moving quickly and confidently, hitting the siren every once in a while to warn the tuba and horn it’s coming through; Trumpets = commuters, annoyed at the confusion that others are creating and honking their horns in protest. In the fall of 2004, Road Rage was selected for performance at the Appalachian State University Brass Chamber Music Forum, honoring the 50th anniversary of the New York Brass Quintet, where it received an award for excellence in composition. 

with Concert Band; 3 movements; Cornet, Flugelhorn and Piccolo preferred

One of Mahler's favorite books was collection of German folk poetry entitle Das Knaben Wunderhorn.  He set a number of these poems to music for solo voice and piano, which he later scored for orchestra.  Inspired by these poems, he wrote his own poetry which formed the lyrics of "Songs of a Wayfarer", which he also set to music.  These two song cycles have become some of his most beloved compositions, and among his most frequently performed works.  This setting for trumpet and piano, soon to be scored for trumpet and band, captures the whimsical nature of German folk song, although the themes are original by Mahler.  The composer later incorporated some of these melodies into his orchestral works.  At the request of Dr. Mark Ponzo, my colleague from Northern Illinois University, I selected three leider from these two song cycles to be scored for trumpet.  As I reflected upon the beautiful melodies, I was inspired to utilize both the lyrical and technical nature of the trumpet to convey Mahler's ideas, while expanding upon them as well.  

I. Ging Heut Morgen Übers Feld

(Went This Morning Over the Field)

from "Songs of the Wayfarer" 

II. Die Zwei Blauen Augen

(The Two Blue Eyes of My Darling)

from "Songs of the Wayfarer"

III. Wer Hat Dies Liedel Erdacht

(Up there on the Hill)

from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn" 

Recording is of the Trumpet and Concert Band version