Symphony in D Major for Strings & Keyboards (Op. 2)
dedicated to the memory of my Father

Written in the winter of 2019.
This work represents my first essay in the Symphonic form.
The compositional process began as a simple experiment to attempt the linking of two unused, decade-old musical fragments into a cohesive structure. Years of study in music of various styles culminated in a burst of creativity that lasted a few weeks of almost constant composition which ultimately ended with the creation of this symphony. In the end my experiment was a success and these two fragments are now linked. Little did I know that nearly 45 minutes of music would be the bridge between these two scraps.
I conceived Symphony 1 as somewhere between a narrative structure and a landscape painting. The titles of each movement reflect the intended landscape which is to be evoked. Because of the narrative structure I decided a "main character" was necessary. The solo violin functions as the main character; their voice and their inner dialogue. The melodies and motifs are often explained by the "landscape" (represented by the string ensemble & accompanying instruments) before being interpreted and developed by the "main character." (violin)
In this sense I sought to evoke the mood of Asian landscape paintings where vast panoramas of undulating natural forms are contrasted by small, solitary human figures. The "main character" (violin) reflects the external structures of the "landscape" (orchestra) and gives them deeper meaning and emotional context and in turn the landscape reflects the main character.

The musical architecture of this symphony is such that larger structural elements may be perceived as representing landscapes and physical objects while the motifs and mutations thereof are meant to be audited as fractal elements akin to patterns found in natural objects and phenomena - phenomena which are visually analogous yet elementally different.
This piece is meant to function both as a tone poem and "absolute music." Therefore I encourage the listener to freely interpret the melodies, rhythms and harmonies in whatever manner they intuit with the knowledge that the composer had clear aims to build landscapes and physical impression with sound. These tonal landscapes are populated with real, living, breathing beings which emerge from shadows, mists and thickets before evaporating beneath still water or driving off across prairie highways.

Scored for:

String Ensemble w/ Solo Violin
Harp
Piano
Electric Keyboard / Synthesizer
Vibraphone (movement 2)