Brass Quintet No. 1' is in many ways my first real piece. It was the very first thing that I wrote in my very first composition lesson. It was my 2nd year at UNCSA, and our Wind Ensemble had just finished an amazing residency with David Maslanka. Learning from him was one of the most inspiring things in my life and really made me feel like I could give this composition-thing a shot. The work is very optimistic, it has a nervous-excited kind of energy. It is based on the thrill of flying at night. It is a little rough around the edges, but it still has heart that is very much inspired by Mr. Maslanka's music.
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