Listen to some short extracts from some of my compositions
Gold Fever Jazz
1st Place in an international call for scores by the
Minnesota Sinfonia. Gold Fever Jazz was subsequently performed by the
chamber orchestra at the Metropolitan State University in St. Paul, Mn and the
Basilica of St. Mary’s in Minneapolis in 2004
Pictures from the East
Performed by the Cabrillo College Symphonic Winds under the direction of Jon Nordgren
Bridge Of Sighs
With Sarah Morris (Flute). A performance recorded at the
Contra Costa Performing Arts Society.
Ghost Town Suite- available from Hal Leonard (www.halleonard.com)
10 effective intermediate/advanced piano solos that will instil a curiosity
for the gold rush days of long ago
Desert Lullaby
The special quality of light that is created by the huge expanse of sky in
the desert never ceases to amaze me, and the harsh conditions that the
prospectors learned to cope with, if only for a short time, is something
quite extraordinary. Desert Lullaby recalls the indigenous people
for whom this landscape, in all its moods, is home
Fort Churchill
Forts were built to protect the route of the travelers to the West. Today at
Fort Churchill, Nevada, only the adobe walls remain framing the huge parade
ground, where soldiers would train for combat. The sound of their bugle
calls can still be heard at dusk and dawn.
Fossils of a Sea Monster
Ghosts of Bodie Chapel
The town of Bodie in California is one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the West.
Its chapel remains intact, and as I entered one snowy day, the ghosts of
past congregations seemed to fill the nave and a familiar hymn tune came to
mind.
In the Goldfield Saloon
A Night at the Opera
Opera houses provided popular entertainment in some towns, with famous singers and
minstrels traveling from as far away as Scotland to entertain the miners and
their families. This piece depicts the opera house of Virginia City, Nevada,
that was opened in 1863 and is still in operation today.
5 Songs from Japan
These 5 songs from Japan were inspired by a beautifully illustrated book of
traditional Japanese songs that was given to me as a parting gift by the
Matsuba family in 2006.
