For Lawson Hager and the Horn Studio at Hardin-Simmons University

Commissioned by Dr. Janelle Ott, Instructor of Bassoon, HSU.

This piece was commissioned by members of the Lone Star State Trumpet Guild for their upcoming performance at the 2019 TMEA Convention in San Antonio, Texas.

Commissioned by Dr. David Amlung and Dr. Juan Mendoza

for trumpet and electronics

selections arranged for string quartet

arranged for string quartet, originally for piano

arranged for string quartet, originally for piano

for woodwind quintet

for trumpet quintet

for woodwind quintet, brass quintet, string quartet, piano, percussion, and electronics

This piece is dedicated to all of the wonderful musicians that have either recently passed away or are no longer teaching at HSU. The music traces their emotional state of hearing bad news and their struggle with the life decisions that followed this news.

This piece was requested by Dr. Charlie Coltman for the Abilene Chamber Players for a special concert featuring Hardin-Simmons University Composers. The concert was in the fall of 2015. I have wanted to compose a piece based on the time Frodo and Sam entered Shelob’s tunnel to their leaving the Tower of Cirith Ungol. I also wanted to work with my colleagues, Steve Neves and Mike Jones, on creating drawings that focused on 10 scenes from this story arc. The performance included a film of their art that was coordinated with the music. Anyone familiar with Tolkien’s masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings, will know that this episode is perhaps the most frightening and perilous part of his epic story. If not for the heroic bravery of Sam, the quest to destroy the Ring would have failed. The music and artwork, in many ways, are in homage to him.

Commissioned by Dr. Robert Tucker. This piece was inspired by the grey skies that haunted Sam and Frodo as they struggled in their journey towards Mordor.  They were single-minded in their dedicated to completing what seemed and felt like an impossible task. They overcame their fear and constantly moved forward toward their goal, whatever end that would be.

Commissioned by Dr. Karla Ordoñez. This piece was inspired by the tragic memories of the remnant of the Noldor still living in Middle-earth in the Third Age who remember the kin-strife caused by the Oath of Fëanor.

This piece is inspired by the beautiful tales found in The Silmarillion, and was composed and premiered by the Key City Brass Quintet.

This piece was inspired by the terribly hot summer of 2010. It was composed for and premiered by the Key City Brass Quintet.

This piece was commissioned by Dr. Kay Williams and Dr. Pauline Bjorem. They are on the piano faculty at Abilene Christian University. This piece contains a number of jazz idioms, such as rag-time rhythms and extended seventh-chords.

This piece was composed as an example to be used in my “Composing with Pro Tools and Reason” class. It’s a funny little tune imitating a live performance. The class and I are both audience and performers.

This piece was written at the request of my “lunch buddies” for the woodwind faculty at Hardin-Simmons University.

This piece was a commission by Dr. Lisa McArthur, Professor of Music at Campbellsville University.

This piece was a commission by Dr. John Irish, Professor of Trumpet at Angelo State University.

This piece was written for and premiered by the Key City Brass Quintet.

This piece was written for Dr. Mark Wilcox and Dr. Bernard Scherr.

This piece was a commission by Dr. Peter Neubert, Visiting Assistant Professor of Viola at Hardin-Simmons University.

This piece was commissioned by Keith Lloyd, Instructor of Percussion and Music History, McMurry University.

This piece was commissioned by Dr. Charles Coltman, Professor of Woodwinds, Hardin-Simmons University.

This piece was commissioned by Dr. Mark Wilcox, Assistant Professor of High Brass, McMurry University.

This work was inspired by the paintings of Joao de Brito and the brilliant piano playing of Joao Bettencourt da Camara. Senor da Camara has performed these pieces in the US and the UK.

This piece was written for the Key City Brass Quintet.

These pieces have been performed many times by the Key City Brass Quintet.

This piece was commissioned by Dr. Kristin Isaacson, Assistant Professor of Cello and String Bass, Hardin-Simmons University.

This piece was written for Dr. Mark Wilcox, Assistant Professor of High Brass, McMurry University.

These arrangements were made for the celebration of the 50th wedding anniversary of Balzer and Blondina Scherr.

This piece was commissioned by Dr. Peter Neubert, Visiting Instructor of Music, Hardin-Simmons University.

This piece was arranged for concert band which was premiered by the Hardin-Simmons University Concert Band under the direction of Dr. Wayne Dorothy.

This piece was commissioned by Dr. Tido Janssen, former Associate Professor of Cello and String Bass, Hardin-Simmons University.

This piece was commissioned by Dr. Charles Coltman, Professor of Woodwinds, Hardin-Simmons University. This work has also been performed on numerous occasions by Dr. Thomas Josenhans.

This piece was written for the horn studio of former Dean and Associate Professor of Horn, Lawson Hager, Hardin-Simmons University.

This piece was commissioned and premiered by the Abilene Chamber Players.

This work was commissioned by Hardin-Simmons University for the inauguration of its former president, Dr. Craig Turner.

These preludes are based on the plainchants listed below. Preludes 11 and 12 were commissioned by Dr. David Eaton, former Assistant Professor of Organ, Hardin-Simmons University. The complete collection is published by Zimbel Press.

This piece won the University of Oregon’s 125th Anniversary Composition Commission Competition. 

This piece was premiered in Eugene, Oregon, in 1997.

This piece was an assignment for my doctorate exams in composition. I enjoyed the result so much that I have added it to my oeuvre. It awaits its premiere.

This piece was premiered in Eugene, Oregon, in 1997. It had its Texas premiere Abilene in 2012.

This piece was written for trumpet players in the studio of George Recker, my trumpet professor at the University of Oregon. It was premiered at the School of Music graduation ceremony in 1996.

This piece cleverly combines quartal and quintal elements in a serial manner.

This piece is a tribute to Gustave Mahler, one of my compositional heroes.

This piece was premiered in Eugene, Oregon, in January of 1996.

This work was inspired by my son when he was a toddler. It was also inspired by my love of the music of Ravel. It has a number of impressionist strands and requires virtuosic skill to perform it satisfactorily. It was premiered in Eugene, Oregon.

This piece was premiered in Eugene, Oregon. It is tonal, lyrical, and quite expressive.

I wrote this piece for myself and the organist at my former parish church. We premiered it at an Easter Vigil service. I also performed it again in Eugene, Oregon. It is rhythmic, tonal, and stately.  

The opening of this piece was written during a faculty meeting in which my mind was starting to drift. It is energetic, tonal, and, perhaps, a bit too Bach-like; but, I keep it in my oeuvre because it is so much fun. It awaits its premiere.