Turning (2007)
for wind ensemble
duration: 9'
Commissioned by Josh Thompson, Lake Zurich High School; Jim Kull, St. Charles East High School; Jon Walsh, Conant High School; Ramiro Barrera, James Logan High School; Steve Andre, Grapevine High School; Marc Mueller, Moore High School; Phil Obado, University High School; Bobby Francis, Texas Christian University; and David Papenhagen, Portage Northern High School.
Consortium organized by Josh Thompson
"Turning" was commissioned by a consortium led by my high school friend, Josh Thompson, who is now a high school band director in the Chicago area. The overriding idea when writing the piece was to convey "strong" beauty as well as loss, rather than traditional "pretty" lyricism.
I chose the title "Turning" for this piece because the word can mean any number of things, all of which might be heard in the piece itself. It could refer to the turning of a massive, prehistoric planet, as the first signs of life begin to bubble up from cracks in the ground. It could refer to the turning of leaves in the fall, a beautiful - but melancholy - thing to see. Or, in the piece's darkest moments, the title could refer to the turning of a knife into one's chest.
"Turning" includes a prominent part for "waterphone." Although the original waterphone is quite expensive (around $1000), there are very similar instruments available at a much lower cost. Options include the "ocean harp" (approximately $240) and the composer's preference, the Aquasonic Super Standard (approximately $275). That said, if you can get your hands on a real Waterphone, nothing beats it. I own a hand-made original Waterphone, and it is available for rental. Contact me if you're interested.