Sojourns

I chose the title, Sojourns, to reflect the short journey taken in each movement. Each movement title comes from an unusual, yet imagination-stirring word I had come across on the internet. For the first, Dérive, I imagine an afternoon stroll through an old foreign city, getting a feel for its unique vibe; the second movement, Sweven, is a hazy journey through a dreamscape; the last movement, Cosmogyral, depicts a fantastical ride through the cosmos. In writing this piece, I tried to make use of a larger range of the horn, particularly on the lower end, than many listeners may be used to. Like writing for euphonium ensembles, this opened up my options significantly.

It is optional that the performers announce the title of each movement and its definition as they’re played, but is not required.

-Ben McMillan