“Bringing the collaborative vision to life”
That’s what composition is all about for me, working with artists to create music with no limitations on expression or situation, from an unaccompanied solo instrument all the way up to full orchestra, band, or choir. I have especially extensive experience writing for brass, and much of my solo and ensemble music for trumpet has been recorded professionally by my dear friend John Wagner on the album “AND THE MOUNTAIN MOVED,” which you will find some pieces from below, as well as the full playlist link.
Written for First Presbyterian Church of Evanston based on a benediction given by 17th-Century Anglican bishop Thomas Ken, this text was recited at the founding of the church in 1868. This piece was intended to mix traditional choral part-writing style with some denser harmonies, performed here by the FPCE Chancel Choir, organist Rebecca Chu, and my incomparable wife Bethany Vaughan on trumpet.
The Door of This House
Written for the Northwestern University Brass Ensemble, this piece is meant to evoke the otherworldly feeling of being inside a giant subterranean cave. Featuring a more modern harmonic language built on fourth and fifth intervals, Brass Caverns blends rumbling masses of sound in the low brass with an angular fugue in the trumpets and horns primarily. Performed here by the NU Brass Ensemble, and conducted by me.
Brass Caverns
