This concert work is now available for an exclusive area premiere for this fall!

Born from visions of cinematic landscapes, enchanted forests and streams of sunlight, this neoclassical tone poem for string orchestra ushers performers and listeners through a journey of mystical beauty and dark shadows. 

This concert work opens with an exhibition of the main theme. The theme’s intervallic leaps and falls reflect a wanderer’s steps through a journey of discovery, inspiration and trial.  As the theme develops and intertwines with other thematic elements,  the pilgrim’s progress turns from promising to poignant. The trees, once majestic become dark giants that hide the next bend in the road. Finally, as the path opens to a new vista, the tension releases into a transformed recapitulation of the melody, this time full of wonder and resolve.

This project hopes to connect with its performers and listeners to be brave as they pursue their dreams, take the unknown pathways, and conquer the dark shadows. 

By joining this community of performers, you will have exclusive performance rights to perform this concert work in your city (and surrounding area) through 2024.

Interested in premiering? Please get in touch with David through Connect page.

This concert work is now available for an exclusive area premiere!

A patriotic tone poem for string orchestra, piano and timpani.

Whether performed for Memorial Day, a Veteran’s Day celebration, or other concert program, your orchestra is sure to leave its audience full of heart and pride for the tremendous sacrifice and selfless service of our champions of courage.

Program Notes

This original concert work overflows with Americana themes of bravery and valor. Written largely in the melodic and harmonic language of American 19th century, the piece touches on hymnody and folk rhythms that conjure feelings of reverence and hope.

Memories and recall of war crest as the high strings strain the hero motif and percussive ostinatos are played by piano and low strings. Finally, the music breaks as trepidation falls into tension, and tension into repose. The patriotic themes return, and hope and anticipation build into a glorious reunion.

A Composer’s Introspection

The warmth of embrace, the pride of patriotism, the tears of togetherness. Our military reunions move us because we can only imagine what our loved ones have walked through and seen. Soldiers returning from war walk with the scars borne by the perils and desperations of war. Holding our hero tight in homecoming’s embrace also means acknowledging we are holding one who experienced turmoil as a sacrifice for the freedoms of our country.

“A Hero’s Welcome” captures the layers of emotional complexity that come home alongside the soldier. Intermixed with the joy of return, the score also contains anxious motifs like storm clouds that appear and reappear. Certainly, every hero or heroine, whether soldier or first responder, lives with memories of loss and horror. These are the bruises that will forever stay with them, yet their sacrifices are not in vain. 

Interested in premiering? Please get in touch with David through the Connect page.