New Recording
New Recording of Blue Radiance. Thank you CWU Symphonic Band!
Central Washington University Symphonic Band
Dr. T. André Feagin, conductor
Recording Live in Hertz Concert Hall, CWU | June 2, 2025
Sunflower Studies Update
Vincent wrote that his Arles sunflowers were ‘almost a cry of anguish’, while also symbolizing gratitude. Anguish and gratitude. Two things we don’t always think go hand in hand, but perhaps they do? My fourth movement addresses this idea the most. Perhaps the more inner anguish one feels the more one tends to seek beauty. This movement will likely be the one I consider the cornerstone of the whole piece. It portrays the beauty, resiliency, and boldness of the sunflower. These are the qualities I believe make the flower such a great metaphor for faith itself. And perhaps these qualities are why Van Gogh thought sunflowers symbolized gratitude.
News Post
What’s new from Metaphor Music Works?
Safely Rest will be performed at the 2022 Midwest Clinic by the Mason Wind Symphony.
Safely Rest is now on the OMEA 2022-2023 required state music list.
At a Crossroads for percussion ensemble was recently written and delivered to the Texas Christian University Percussion Orchestra for their performance at Pasic in November.
What are some new releases?
Two new chamber music pieces are now available:
Safely Rest is now available for BRASS ENSEMBLE.
Fanfare from “Catharsis” is now available for brass and percussion.
What am I working on now?
Sunflower Studies (a symphony for wind ensemble) is still in the works! To join the consortium. More info here.
Down by the Salley Gardens for combined wind ensemble and choir (Grade 3). This piece will be premiered at the Scioto County Honors Music Festival in February 2023.
New Recordings
I received two beautiful recordings this month that I am so pleased to share.
The Arizona State University Wind Ensemble recently performed Where Words Cannot Go.
Listen to Where Words Cannot Go here
The University of Colorado Symphonic Band Chamber Winds recently performed Letters from the Traveling Doll.
New Release
Image on Truth was released this week and is available for purchase at Murphy Music Press. The piece was inspired by Sojourner Truth. You can read more about the piece and hear an excerpt Here.
ITG 2019
Two of my newest trumpet pieces will be performed at the 2019 International Trumpet Guild New Works Recital. Steve Siegel will perform my Poem at Cantwell Cliffs and Peyden Shelton will perform the Sonata for Trumpet and Piano that he recently commissioned. It’s an honor and I hope to make it to Miami, FL.
News Post
NEW RELEASES:
for Wind Ensemble: I will lament and love (grade 4+)
for Chamber Ensemble: Improvisations for trumpet and percussion ensemble
Everything Band Podcast
Thank you to Mark Connor for the opportunity to speak on his Everything Band Podcast. It’s a great podcast to hear from various composers, conductors and educators. It was nice to share some aspects of my story and be able to give credit to some key people in my life. I don’t know where I’d be if it were not for people like David Gillingham, David Ludwig and Jim Gray. Music is so important and for some reason it seems to be one of the best vehicles to bring out community and encouragement in people. Such a wonderful thing!
Link:
http://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/id/6879209/tdest_id/500284
I will lament and love
I said these words almost two years ago (video below). I had no idea just how tightly I'd have to hold on to these very beliefs in order to write the piece I just finished. I said those words before my piece, Eternity in an Hour, was performed. However, these words are even more applicable to the piece I just wrote that is in response to what happened at Stoneman Douglas High School, titled I will lament and love. The piece is a lament, but also a display of hope. I've included 17 short solos throughout the work to draw attention to the individuals who lost their lives.
When you sing through suffering (whether through the human voice or giving voice to an instrument through human breath), that means hope is alive. A lament can hold the saddest melody, but if that melody is sung then hope is present.
I was approached in February about writing this piece and we are at the end of that process. The Ohio State University Wind Symphony generously recorded the piece as soon as I finished the work. I am so glad to have been a part of such a thoughtful process.
Upcoming Performances
6 wind ensemble performances coming up!
February 11th- Capital University will premiere "Solace Dance"
March 3rd-Columbia University gives the US premiere of "Beauty Broken"
March 5th- Rowan University will premiere "Autumn Air".
April 23rd- Arizona State University concert band will perform "Dance the Joy Alive". Winner of composition contest for the Arizona State University concert band which was held by the Beta Omicron Chapter of Kappa Kappa Psi.
Monterey Sketches Premiere
The University of Akron Faculty Brass Quintet gave "Monterey Sketches" a wonderful premiere last week! They have such gentleness to bring out subtleties, yet intense playing when the music calls for it. The entire concert was extremely enjoyable. Here is a recording of this fine group performing the piece:
Refractions
Rob Waugh performing the third movement of Refractions at ITG 2017:
Poem at Cantwell Cliffs
Michael Brest recently sent me this video of his performance of "Poem at Cantwell Cliffs"
I am amazed at the musicality in his playing and am beyond pleased and impressed with this performance of my piece. This is exactly how I imagined the piece to be played.
ITG 2017
I have attended each International Trumpet Guild conference for the last 4 years as my music has been performed. I always enjoy being surrounded by the sounds of trumpet and catching up with old friends (and making new ones!) This year my trumpet solo, Refractions, was featured on the New Works Recital. Rob Waugh approached me about a year ago to write him a solo. He mentioned that he'd like it to be a piece that his students could also easily perform. He performed the third movement of this piece on the recital in Hershey, PA. He sent me a recording of the piece from a recital he gave at his school last Fall, but it was so wonderful to finally hear his big and beautiful sound live.
It was also great getting to catch up with a former Michigan classmate, Jason Bergman. He is such a great trumpet player and is a person of great personality and character! He has some of my music in his hands and I can't wait to hear what he does with it.
It was a great conference as always and I walk away ready to write some new music!
Recording!
I received the concert recording of Eternity in an Hour, which is on the Dublin Wind Symphony's 5th Year Anniversary CD. Here is an excerpt from the third movement:
More can be found HERE
Refractions chosen for New Works Recital!
My trumpet solo, Refractions, written for Professor Rob Waugh has been selected for the New Works Recital at the 2017 ITG conference. It's always a pleasure to attend these conferences and be around great trumpet players!
Premiere!!!
Excited to hear the Dublin Wind Symphony perform "Eternity in an Hour" this month!
Read more about the piece here