I wrote this piece as a final assignment for my Orchestration II class, which was taken during my last semester as an undergraduate at the University of Michigan. The professor assigned the instrumentation, which was based on a poll taken by the class. I wanted more experience with bassoon and harp, which are two instruments that I had taken an interest in. This assignment not only strengthened my orchestration skills but also allowed me to add another piece to my portfolio.

In terms of style, I wanted to experiment a little with bi-tonality while maintaining plenty of melodicism. I also wanted to incorporate some extended harmonies from jazz. My influences at the time were Stravinsky, Ravel, Ennio Morricone, and Herbie Hancock.

The title of the piece came to me near the end. I knew from the start that I wanted the music to evoke the mood of walking through the city at night and seeing the lights, which is something that I occasionally enjoy doing. On one particular night, I was walking through the campus, and it was drizzling. As I walked past the various lamp posts, I noticed how the haze created an effect with the light, a sort of halo surrounding the lamp. This effect created a very dreamy mood within the space, and I used this experience to create the title " Halos in the Haze."

(This is a MIDI recording created with NotePerformer. The piece was premiered on April 27, 2022, in Kevreson Hall at the University of Michigan's School of Music, Theater, & Dance.)

Halos In The Haze

By Joel Ross

Performed March 26th, 2023 at Hankinson Rehearsal Hall at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, & Dance

Alto - Carlos Taboada
Tenor - Zach Reed
Piano - Mercer Patterson
Bass - Ben Powell
Drums - Nate Winn

The Grand Struggle Against Fear

By Carlos Taboada

Performed March 26th, 2023 at Hankinson Rehearsal Hall at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, & Dance

Alto - Carlos Taboada
Piano - Mercer Patterson
Bass - Ben Powell
Drums - Nate Winn

Swell! (sax)

By Mercer Patterson 

Performed March 26th, 2023 at Hankinson Rehearsal Hall at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater, & Dance

Alto - Carlos Taboada
Tenor - Zach Reed
Piano - Mercer Patterson
Bass - Ben Powell
Drums - Nate Winn

Icarus

By Lennie Tristano

Performed March 12, 2022, as part of my Senior Recital @ The Cady Room, University of Michigan

Carlos Taboada - alto
Andrew Bishop - tenor
Ian Thompson - guitar
Rowan Tucker-Meyer - piano
Tyler Thenstedt - bass
Alex Lepanto - drums

By Xenia St Charles Gilbert

Performed March 12, 2022, as part of my Senior Recital @ The Cady Room, University of Michigan

EWI - Carlos Taboada

Stop and Smell the Crash Blossoms

By Carlos Taboada

Performed March 12, 2022, as part of my Senior Recital @ The Cady Room, University of Michigan

Carlos Taboada - alto
Ian Thompson - guitar
Rowan Tucker-Meyer - piano
Tyler Thenstedt - bass
Alex Lepanto - drums

Pelican Party

By Charles Stepney & Richard Rudolph

Performed March 12, 2022, as part of my Senior Recital @ The Cady Room, University of Michigan

Piano - Carlos Taboada

Memory Band

Performed March 12, 2022, as part of my Senior Recital @ The Cady Room, University of Michigan

EWI - Carlos Taboada

Ee - Wee

Bleau by Carlos Taboada
Shadow of Your Smile by Johnny Mandel

Performed March 12, 2022, as part of my Senior Recital @ The Cady Room, University of Michigan

Piano - Carlos Taboada

Bleau & The Shadow Of Your Smile

Barely Free

Child of God
Composer/musician
U-M 2022 & 2024

Popular tracks by Carlos Taboada