Instrumentation
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
Clarinet 1
Clarinet 2
Clarinet 3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Horn in F 1 (divisi into 2 parts occasionally)
B flat Trumpet 1
B flat Trumpet 2
B flat Trumpet 3
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium TC/BC
Tuba
Bass Drum
Tam-Tam
Crash Cymbals
Suspended Cymbal
Marimba
Vibraphone
Chimes
Orchestra Bells
Until age 33, I spent the majority of my life in southern Ohio. I made my first big venture away from the nest when I moved from the rolling hills, deep rivers, and lush greenery of the Cincinnati-Dayton area to the flat lands, red soil, brushy foliage, and endless skies of Oklahoma.
The topography and weather were so different than Ohio— the wind never stopped blowing, clouds and storms passed through in a matter of minutes, sunny skies were the norm (anyone who has spent a winter in Ohio knows that is not the case!), and orange and red wind-worn rock formations framed the endless vistas of prairie.
On my first evening in this new, strange place, I was feeling apprehensive, wondering if I had made the right decision to move so far from everything and everyone I knew. Looking toward the sky, I witnessed the most beautiful, radiant sunset that I had ever experienced. The colors were incredibly vibrant, and the sky seemed so close that you could reach up and touch the clouds with your fingertips. At that moment, a peace come over me and I knew I was home.
In my time in Oklahoma, I grew very much attached to the land, the people, and the endless sunny skies that, almost nightly, transformed into those spectacular sunsets that inspired this piece.