Just a Step Away (for Baritone Voice and Brass Quintet)

This is a piece I wrote for a friend for his wedding, performed by his brother, Nathaniel Carter and the Lone Star Brass Quintet. It combines the simple melody of a contemporary pop song with a Renaissance-like accompaniment of the brass, with linear diatonicism.

Brass Quintet #2

It was a great honor to recently have my Brass Quintet #2 performed by the Lone Star Brass of the Midland-Odessa Symphony & Chorale at the Wagner-Noel Performing Arts Center.  Along with being excellent musicians, the piece was played by super-nice guys, some of whom I have had relationship with for decades.

I wrote Brass Quintet #2 approximately 13 years ago, and was pleased to have its premiere April 3, 2016.

The piece is written in four contrasting movements.  Mvt. 1 is Renaissance-like, Mvt. 2 is aggressively contrapuntal, Mvt. 3 is peaceful with a hint of jazz sonorities, and Mvt. 4 is motivically cumulative, finishing with a bright 16-note passage.

I hope you enjoy listening.