Woodwind Quintet

Compass Kaleidoscope was commissioned by the Pennsylvania Quintet (Penn State Faculty members) in celebration of their 30 Year Anniversary. It is based on a theme related to Pennsylvania: Amish quilts. Pennsylvania is noted for its longtime quilt making arts, a tradition started in the early 1800's by Amish and Mennonite women in Lancaster county. Each of the five movements of the quintet is inspired by a different traditional quilt pattern chosen by a member of the quintet. The musical materials were derived from the geometric shapes, color palette, arrangement of blocks, the name of the design and traditional folk melodies. Some of the compositional ideas were informed by the composer's synesthesia where particular pitches are associated with colors.

1. Chestnut
2. Kaleidoscope
3. III. Caprice

“Divertimento for Wind Quintet” is a moderately difficult, vibrant piece in three short movements. The piece features dynamic contrasts, syncopation, varied tonal colors, full instrument ranges, tonal clusters of harmony, and imitative motifs that pass among the instruments. The work is delightful to play and hear. It's suitable for college and professional players, and it’s an excellent tool for teaching advanced students more refined ensemble and musicianship skills.

The first movement, “Chestnut” (3:00), is an entertaining story in which all the instruments combine to tell an animated tale. “Kaleidoscope” (2:40), the second movement, includes continually changing harmonic patterns and varied dynamics that create a wealth of shifting musical textures. The third movement, “Caprice” (2:50), is a whim brimming with energetic playfulness that radiates from all the instruments.

The instrumentation throughout is standard woodwind quintet with no alternative instrumentation or doubling. Each section can be performed as a standalone concert or contest selection.

Dream Journal was inspired by the dream analysis of Sigmund Freud. Each of the four movements (“Hunted,” “Just out of Reach,” “Into the Bottomless Pit” & “Floating on the Wind”) explores a classic dream scenario. “Hunted” is a chase scenario, with the protagonist being pursued by some unknown predator. When it seems as if the danger is past, the chase starts all over again. Just as capture is imminent, the dreamer abruptly wakes up. “Just out of Reach” musically portrays the melancholy longing of some forgotten memory – a lover, a pet, a friend. “Into the Bottomless Pit” is the fear of falling into the unknown, while in “Floating on the Wind”we are flying through the air: blissful, free and content.

Oboe, Clarinet, Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet and Bassoon

Drift was written for the TIMBER Reed Quintet at the Ohio State University. Upon attending rehearsals and listening to the dynamic of the group, I was fascinated with the way the five instruments blended their sound together and the vast array of timbres that could emerge from the various combinations. This sparked my vision to create a piece that would highlight these abilities. Drift makes use of rhythmic ambiguity and uses a Jazz influence to create a musical idea of drifting along. 

Alejandro Guardia Jr.’s woodwind quintet Drowning is inspired by the idea of a man drowning. It begins with a very active, even frantic theme shared in all the instruments, before a calm, peaceful ending as the man ceases to struggle.