Modern Legacy

Modern Legacy (2025) is a rollicking exploration of the lineage of conventions and their enduring ability to inspire generations of contemporary concoctions. Each of the work's three movements references iconic pillars of the chamber winds repertoire while showcasing different sections of the ensemble. In the first movement, "Partita," a fragment of Mozart's Gran Partita attempts to conscript all instrument families to its cause, whimsically whirling through a kaleidoscope of classical and contemporary exchanges. The second movement, "Serenade," is a nod to Dvorak's Serenade for Winds, featuring slippery harmonic moments, a leap-laden cantabile main melody, and a trio section that may not be what it seems. In the third and final movement, "Concertino," the ensemble and piano soloist transmute vestiges of Stravinsky's Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments, shapeshifting through stark and resonant harmony, intricate imitative surges, and fearless rhythmic excursions. Modern Legacy celebrates this instrumentation's collective power as well as the intimacy and distinctiveness of its component parts. Thank you to Dr. David Waybright and the University of Florida Bands for commissioning this work.