I finished revising the parts for the orchestra version of “Redline Tango” yesterday, and I emailed the files to the printing company. I should receive the printed parts early next week. I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning up the score. I think it all looks pretty good now. I printed a copy last night so I could do one last proof, and in the few minutes that I flipped through it, I did see a couple of small corrections that I need to make today. Nothing major, but since these scores are going to Marin Alsop and Andrew Litton — both major conductors — I want everything to look perfect.

I’ve decided to attend the Minnesota Orchestra‘s performance of “Redline Tango” in July, regardless of whether the orchestra is able to help with the finances. It’s too important of a performance to miss. That, combined with a potential trip to San Antonio to hear the Blue Devils play Redline Tango in mid-July, plus the trip to Santa Cruz for the Cabrillo performance in early August, all add up to an unusually busy summer. AEJ and I have also scheduled a short getaway to Memphis in a few weeks. That’ll be fun. I’m a big fan of BBQ…

Now that the parts and score are done, I need to start thinking about the next piece — the commission for the SEC conference. Since “Sasparilla” was the big “fun” piece, I want to do something a little less-light on the next piece. I don’t know what that is yet, but I was inspired by two pieces I heard at the CBDNA conference in February — “Symphony for Brass and Percussion” by Gunther Schuller, and “LA’I (Love Song) for orchestra without strings” by Bright Sheng. The Sheng piece had what I can only describe as “trombone screams,” and the Schuller had some of the quietest brass playing I’ve ever heard. I think if I can mix those ideas, plus feature some cool percussion writing… It’s not much, but there may be something there. Stay tuned.

I only have a moment, as I’m completely swamped, but I wanted to give you something fun to read.
Howard Lee Harkness posted a great story as a comment to one of my blog entries yesterday. Click here, and check out the comment that starts with “Last weekend, I got what turned out to be the strangest gig I have ever landed.” It’s a great story.

This will be the first of many posts over the next few months about my participation at the Cabrillo Festival. As I’ve mentioned, Marin Alsop will be leading the West Coast Premiere of the orchestra version of “Redline Tango” on August 13 in Santa Cruz. Just for kicks, please take a look at this link.

How often do publicity materials for an orchestra performance make such a big deal about the composers?

And where else can we see my headshot pasted right next to John Adams?!?!