Winter break was great, but this week, I had to get back into the groove of things. I’m supposed to have parts of Shadow Rituals ready for ASU this week and I’ve JUST finished laying out the parts and scores. It’s a grueling task and I’ve been at it all day since I woke up yesterday. Anyway, I wasn’t very satisfied with the first version of Shadow Rituals that I originally wrote as an entry for the Frank Ticheli composition contest with Manhattan Beach Music and decided to just improve it so it wasn’t as horrible as I thought it was come ASU time. I didn’t do a whole lot though I did completely rework the percussion and revist certain sections of the piece that I felt were lacking something. I think I only “rewrote” a few measures toward the beginning. Now, there is FOUR awesome measures of a raunchy saxophone ensemble! Other than that, it’s the same piece and a lot more cohesive. The scores are at the printers as I type and the parts will be printed first thing tomorrow. I’ll be then taking all my materials to ASU to leave them for Martin Province, Matthew Luttrell (the graduate TA who will be conducting the piece), and the librarians. The band (rumor has it that it’s Wind Symphony……… though I haven’t been given the exact details) will read it Tuesday and perform it on Valentine’s Day (aww). Hope you can make it! I’ll post a fresh score and a new MIDI recording in a minute. Check it out~

Here’s the press release: http://herbergercollege.asu.edu/calendar/eventOne.php?ID=88