Homecoming (There and Back) (2021)

concert band, 6.5’

Commissioned by Gowanda Central School

A ‘homecoming’ of sorts—a work for my alma mater! This concert band piece was written pre-COVID, then filmed during an ease of performance restrictions for young wind players, and premiered a a multi-tracked video in Gowanda, NY’s historic Hollywood Theatre.

The work progresses through several moods that would have been common to the theater in its heydey of early films- a little exoticized jungle music, a little mystery, and a little romantic climax. The work also incorporates some site-specific performers throughout the theater.

Many thanks to Jacob Swanson, who conducted, rehearsed, directed, and edited the video, and all the Gowanda NY performers involved in the work.