Mvt. 1 - Dauntless is unabashedly confidant; unafraid to be showy or compassionate.

Premiered March 7, 2007
Valerie Vidal, alto saxophone
Scott Holshouser, piano

Contrasts - I Dauntless

This is a story about friendship, trust, and a little mischief. It starts at a wondrous waterpark. The sights and sounds take us back to cotton candy and overly buttered gigantic pretzels. It’s a wonderland full of excitement. A group of kids are about to enter the gates…but one child refuses to go in…and stays back. Knees knocking and teeth chattering, the sight of an enormous waterslide in the distance keeps the child from crossing the turnstile. However, the friends convince the child that everything will be fine. Although not quite sure…with the friends all around, the child enters the park. Soon the wonderment takes over and the child is swept away by the enchantment of this place.

The enjoyment doesn’t last long when all of a sudden, the child comes to the entrance of the gigantic waterslide. Everyone starts to go up, but the child stays behind. Once again the friends are convincing, and soon the child starts climbing to the top…just to take a look…ready to turn around at any moment. As they all approach the top, the child slowly and carefully looks over the edge to the depths below…”no way” the child thinks.

Then suddenly…”GO” the guard says, and the friends give the child a push! With a terrified scream, the child slips down the slide, bending, turning, bumping, and splashing all the way down. The child hears the faint sounds of the park, but they are distorted by the speedy journey. The water is rushing…faster and faster the child falls…until…SPLASH!
Dumped into the pool…hidden by bubbles and ripples…the friends wait for the child to pop up… Then…with a huge rush of excitement, the child leaps out of the water laughing and smiling…having just had the best time! The friends laugh with joy and they leave the slide to enjoy the rest of their day…but they ask…”will you go again?” The child says…”Maybe!”

This piece was written for Ariel Gammons and the Creekwood Middle School 2015-2016 Honors Band, Melissa Allen, director. It was premiered May 14, 2016 at the Alamo Showcase of Music, Cibolo, TX.

Das Verschreckte Kind Im Wasserpark - CMS Honors Band

This was a LIVE performance of a work of Houston composer Pierre Jalbert; a co-production of Grace Song, Inc. and MUSIQA.

Transcendental Windows (2000) for chamber orchestra

Keith Weber, conducting

Points of Colored Glass
    Mosaic Glass
           Confetti Glass/Play of Light
                  Mosaic Glass
                         Flowing Waters (Sea of Galilee)
                  Confetti Glass/Play of Light
            Swirling Colors
     Mosaic Glass
Points of Colored Glass

Contrasts - I Dauntless

BradSayles

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