Works

Vocal

Caveat of the Cave for SATB choir and wind ensemble, text by Elizabeth Savage (2013) Fairmont State University Collegiate Singers, Community Chrous, and Wind Ensemble MP3 This is a setting of Elizabeth Savage's "Caveat of the Cave," written to celebrate the innauguration of Fairmont State's president, Dr. Maria Rose. Maybe Next Season for baritone voice and piano, text by Timothy Pettet (2008) Kirk Patton, voice  Xu Zhou, Piano MP3 Maybe Next Season represents my first collaboration with Kansas City poet Tim Pettet. Tim regards this setting as "operatic." My goal was to explore the psychological state of the baseball- loving narrator as he searches for his "new layer of heaven above the lighted field." Three Women for soprano and chamber orchestra, text by Cheryl Melfi (2003) Catalina Chamber Orchestra, Enrique Lasansky, director  Elena Todd, soprano MP3 Three Women is based upon three separate poems by Cheryl Melfi.  The poems, all written from women’s points of view, were written without any connection to each other.  I chose these three poems for their content and decided to weave my own unified, single-movement work about different kinds of love.  The first song in this piece is about love for one’s self.  The sound world is bright and ebullient but morphs into despair by the soprano’s descending melodic line acknowledging that she is the only one who can enjoy her own beauty.  In this darker sound world exists the second song about jealous, unrequited love.  The soprano spitefully sings to her intended love who pays her no attention while  he writes a love poem to another woman.  After the rage subsides, a subdued, delicate nocturne follows about finding one’s perfect match. The music climaxes with wordless exultation by the soprano having found her love.  I give many thanks to Cheryl, my perfect match, for the use of her poetry without which this piece could not exist.