A Bit ‘O Jazz (for Chamber Ensemble)

This was my first attempt at ‘serious’ composition. I wrote it when I was around 13 years old for my Junior High School Orchestra. I wasn’t asked to write it, I just thought that if I had enough initiative to write for the group, the director would elect to perform it, or at least read it.

My naivete brought me some initial disappointment from the director of the ensemble. He had other plans for how he wanted to budget the rehearsal time for the group.

However, since I played in the Midland-Odessa Symphony at the time, the resident String Quartet and a couple other musicians told me they would be glad to read it for me after one of our rehearsals, which is the recording posted here.

This was my first journey into the world of composing and the rewarding feeling that comes from getting a group to play one’s work, along with the thrill of capturing the recording.

Hope you enjoy it!