This work-in-progress is a MIDI File of a piece that I began composing in the Summer of 2013.

Imagine yourself stranded in a forest at night. They say it is always darkest before dawn but when you're alone and you've lost your way in the forest, things change. As long as you always have hope, you will find your pathway to the light and once again be freed from said forest.

A Darkened Footpath

This is a tune I wrote after an impromptu jam session. I tried my best to emulate an old 1940's jazz standard, something you'd hear on your grandfathers old record player.

The recording is from February 11, 2014. Performed at Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia's Annual American Composers Recital.

INSTRUMENTATION:
Guitar - Brett Kelley
Bass - Chris Copeland
Drums - Daniel Niven
Trumpet - Armando Gutierrez
Tenor Sax - David Wyant

LYRICS
(On this recording, nothing was sung, but I did write lyrics)

VERSE
Oh, Darling, when you are near, I find that something is very clear.
Oh, Darling, I wish to say, time spent with you is the month of may.

CHORUS
Oh, Darling I love you, just as the spring time has rain. Oh, let it fall!
Oh, Darling you cause flowers to appear under blue skies. I will be thinking of you.

VERSE

CHORUS

TAG
Darling, I know that you are her, the girl that will turn rain to sunshine. Oh! Oh, Darling.

Oh, Darling

For my Music Theory IV class, we were asked to compose a Theme and several Variations on the melody to 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.' This is what I came up with.

Guidelines:
Theme (0:00) 
Var. I (0:25) - Accompany with an ostinato in another key (bitonal)
Var. II (1:01) - Write in an asymmetric meter.
Var. III (2:19) - Write in a mixed meter.
Var. IV (3:03) - Put melody in 'C Major' and harmonize with pandiatonic chords. Use melody in low voice and chords above.
Var. V (3:39) - Accompany with a single ostinato pattern that uses a hemiola.

A Theme and Variations on 'Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star'

This is our final composition project for Music Theory IV. You create a matrix (the matrix for this piece is the picture accompanying this page) Short, but I thought it turned out all right. I might use it for a brass quintet someday. I dunno. Over and out.

Anaphylaxis

The piece is entitled, “A Light in the Darkest Night,” because of an event that occurred in my life my senior year at Russellville High School. All the RHS band members had just gotten back from concert assessment at Alma. I was in the band room changing out of my uniform when I heard a crack of thunder echo through the band hall; a storm had arrived. Most people would only have to worry about running from the building to their car to avoid the rain. Unfortunately for me, I drive a Jeep Wrangler, which at that point had no doors or roof. (It was very beautiful outside early that day.) As soon as I got outside, the rain began to pour. I have never witnessed a harder rain since that evening. So, as soon as I gave up all thoughts of being dry, I decided to head to my car. I began to drive home. Rain was on both sides of the windshield, and both sides of my glasses, so I resorted to sticking my head out the side of the car where a door would be. As I was driving on a back road to my house something happened that I had not expected. The rain stopped immediately. I had hit the eye of the storm. As I look around I could see lightning striking about a mile away, the rain falling all around me, but not on my head. I stopped the car and looked up. The colors I saw were purple, pink, green and red, surrounded by a completely darkened sky. These overwhelmingly beautiful colors were so calm and vivid, unlike the clouds that were swirling violently around them. As I sat there, drenched from head to toe, amazed at this breathtaking and calm light in the middle of the storm, I did not realize the inevitable downpour that hit me very soon after. Forty-five seconds of light in that dark night and I can still clearly see it to this day. I believe this story to be depicted clearly among each section of the piece.

A Light In The Darkest Storm

This brass quintet is in a rondo form and is very tasty.

Cavendish

This a midi recording of a piece I wrote in memory of my oldest and longest friend, James Davis, who passed away at the age of 21 in a car wreck recently. It is a trombone quartet containing references to a piece by Richard Strauss, called "Death and Transfiguration." It may not make sense unless if you read what I posted on facebook the day he passed away.

Here is a link to my DropBox containing the text.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/o1wnc0j4rzo9kjq/In%20Memory%20of%20James.pdf?dl=0 

SSC - Last Words

This is a solo piece for bassoon and piano accompaniment,

A Bold Statement

Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock, this piece is written for the vibraphone. It is creepy and mysterious and filled with crunchy harmonies (the way I tend to write). I began work last night and I think it is a nice touch to add this on Halloween. Enjoy!

Brett JS Kelley