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"Onça"

Original Composition. Concert Band, 2009.
Written for the 08-09 8th Grade Band of Rodney Thompson MS,
Mrs. Katherine M.C. Reeves, Director of Bands.

Composer's Note: Pronounced "OWN-sah," the Portuguese word Onça literally means "Jaguar," but can also mean "ounce" (the unit of measurement), a play on words regarding the small length of the work. It is found in the scientific name of the Jaguar, Panthera onca.

"Stafford County Fanfare"

Original Composition. Concert Band, 2005.
Written for the 05-06 Bands of Stafford HS,
Mr. Chuck Hite, Director of Bands.

"Elegy"

Original Composition. String Orchestra, 2000.
Dedicated to Sabrina Jimenez.

"Kölcsönhatások"

Original Composition. Alto Saxophone and Snare Drum, 2001.

Composer's Note: Pronounced "CURL-churn-ha-TAY-shock," the Hungarian word Kölcsönhatások literally means "interconnected." This was the culminating composition of my independent study with Dana Wilson, to whom I am tremendously endebted for his patience and guidance.

"Sky's Night Wondering"

Original composition. Winds, 2005.
Dedicated to Shannon O'Grady.

"Theme and Counterpoint No. 5"

Original composition. Clarinet Trio, 2001.
Dedicated to Dr. Mary I. Arlin.

Composer's Note: T&C5 was my response to an undergraduate assignment from legendary music theorist Mary Arlin. I undertook the challenge to compose a tonal piece of serial (12-tone row) music. (More accurately, a piece of serial music that yielded the appearance of tonality.) Receiving an A+ on this assignment was one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences of my time at the Ithaca College School of Music. (And yes, it took me five iterations before I was comfortable handing it in.)

"Czigany Dance"

Original Composition. Trombone Choir, 2002.

Composer's Note: Pronounced "chih-GONE-ya," the Romanian term Czigany refers to the nomadic Roma "gypsy" people of the Carpathian Mountain ranges. This is not purported to be authentic Romani music, but rather an impressionist rendering.

"Evenstar"

Original Composition. Solo Flute and Piano, 2003.
Written for Randi Lee Wilson.

Solo for Clarinet

Original composition. Clarinet and Piano, 1999. Revised 2000.
Written for Jennifer Siracusa and Chrissy Stevens.

Composer's Note: Without doubt the most technically demanding piece I have ever composed - more than one person has dismissed it as "unplayable," though several professional clarinettists have disagreed - what was originally titled Sonata for Clarinet never moved beyond a single movement. It was written during a tumultuous time of my life, and the intransigent almost imperious "pounding" certainly mirrors that attitude.

Solo for Violin

Original composition. Solo Violin and Piano, 2000.
Written for Victoria F. Alaimo.

"Canto III: Resignation"

Original Composition. Solo Tenor and Piano, 2003.

Lyrics:

All ye who enter here, abandon hope!
All ye who enter here, abandon hope!
Here ye see Wisdom Supreme at work, and Primal Pow'r,
And Love Supernal in their dawnless day.
Ere from their thought creation rose in flower
Eternal first were all things fix'd as they.
Of Increate Power infinite formed am I
That deathless as themselves I do not die.
Justice divine has weighed: the doom is clear.
All hope renounce, ye lost, who enter here.

From "Canto III" of Dante's "Divine Comedy."

Solo for Bass Trombone

Original composition. Bass Trombone and Piano, 2000.
Written for Michael Dobranski.

"Adiemus" Part I: "In Caelum Fero"

Arrangement. Original composed by Karl Jenkins. Marching Band Show "Adiemus" for Edison HS, Alexandria, VA, 2009.

"Adiemus" Part II: "Hymn"

Arrangement. Original composed by Karl Jenkins. Marching Band Show "Adiemus" for Edison HS, Alexandria, VA, 2009.

"Adiemus" Part III: "Tintinnabulum" and Reprise-Finale

Arrangement. Original composed by Karl Jenkins. Marching Band Show "Adiemus" for Edison HS, Alexandria, VA, 2009.

"Vaquero"

Arrangement. Original composed by Sammy Nestico. Marching Band Show "West," 2006.

"Rodeo"

Arrangement. Original composed by Aaron Copeland. Marching Band Show "West," 2006.