Song written for asking Annie to marry me.

Proposal Song

Maclay Fight Song (student vocals)

No Comment

Hey yo, hey yo, what’s up yo

All Horizons

Haunted Hows

Performed in DRH at Florida State University

Piano Improvisation 10 - 17 - 15

Performed by Duo Rodinia with Lisa Kachouee on clarinet and bass clarinet, and Jamie Wind Whitmarsh on marimba.

18th FSU FNM; Concert IIa

Two Days' Bar Talk

Program Note:

     At its very core, Life for Life is a musical depiction of the salvation offered by Jesus Christ.  On the one hand, the title implies a law: one life given in exchange for the redemption of another life which is lost—Christ’s life willingly given for the believer’s.  On the other hand, it refers to Jesus’ life being the source of life for the believer.  A concise musical narrative of the work is as follows: There is a law by a holy God (represented by persistent, static, recurring chords) that cannot be escaped or fulfilled.  All human efforts fail, and brokenness, despair, and lament follow.  However, in the seeming darkness, God’s grace in Jesus Christ works behind the scenes.  When the music picks up tempo, there are two layers of analogy present: that of Christ’s human struggle in a broken and sinful world, and the struggle of the believer to come to, and live by, faith (with embedded elements of hope).  As the musical tension builds, the original “law chords” return and grow in intensity.  The building tension, resulting in an abrupt halt, represents Jesus taking on himself the law’s full requirements and penalty (on behalf of the believer) when he died on the cross (and on the other analogous level, the believer coming to the end of themselves in a metaphorical death).  What follows is an increasing hope and joy in the resurrection and gospel of Jesus Christ, leading to an eternity with Him.


Background:

     Life for Life is the culmination and capstone of my year-long experience  as the first recipient of the Zwilich Graduate Assistantship in Music Composition.  Through this assistantship, I was able to immerse myself in the orchestral idiom during the 2015-2016 academic year by attending the weekly rehearsals of both the University Philharmonia Orchestra’s and the University Symphony Orchestra.  My orchestral education was also greatly helped by Dr. Jimenez, graduate conductors, James Chang and Rachel Friedman, and the orchestral staff and players.  This close and frequent contact with the orchestra and personnel provided me with a wealth of knowledge and tools, and ultimately, the springboard from which to write this piece.  It was a phenomenal and unparalleled experience that I absolutely cherish, and for which I am extremely grateful.

Life For Life (orchestra)

Performed July 13th at the 2017 Atlantic Music Festival in Waterville, ME.  Brian Allred - flute, Nick Walshe - clarinet, Ludek Wojtkowski - violin, Liz Kovalchuk - cello, Lior Willinger - piano, Tyler Cunningham - vibraphone.  Recorded by Charles Hagaman.

Somewhere Between Thought And Feeling

Standoff (thriller)

The Choice (crime, fiction)

Performed by the Ambassador Trio; Patrick Englert, Jack Liang, Jeremy Ruth

City Electric
     I. Busy Intersection, Signals Dark
     II. Light Drowns the Night Sky
     III. Flicker and Surge

City Electric

Psalm 32 (NKJV)

Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones grew old
Through my groaning all the day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was turned into the drought of summer.
I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I have not hidden.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
For this cause everyone who is godly shall pray to You
In a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters
They shall not come near him.
You are my hiding place;
You shall preserve me from trouble;
You shall surround me with songs of deliverance.
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye.
Do not be like the horse or like the mule,
Which have no understanding,
Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle,
Else they will not come near you.
Many sorrows shall be to the wicked;
But he who trusts in the Lord, mercy shall surround him.
Be glad in the Lord and rejoice, you righteous;
And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Aaron Spotts

Pinned to spotlight

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