Concerto for Clarinet and Band
(with Piano Reduction)

Composed by Franklin Piland
Commissioned by Micheal Muñoz for his nephews, Jayce Abraham and Jordan Thomas
Inspired by "The Sacral Tree Poems" by Sam Reese

Shih-wen Fan, clarinet
Ben Corbin, piano

Jake Moon, recording engineer
Franklin Piland, producer/recording mix

May 30, 2016
The University of Texas at Austin

I. The Fig Tree

"The solitary life of the greedy, 
encompassing a wold in shadow. 
Filling the space if its body; in darkness it spreads to avoid.
The jagged sky stands as a challenge and a threat to one so bold. 
Engulfed in flames of hubris and shame, 
desiring the delight of destruction."

II. The Willow in the Water

"Stooped low with age. 
Made to drink from the banks of the great river. 
Adding its own tears to the rush of mighty Sorrow."

III. The Ash

"Buried deep, 
pulling life from the Earth. 
Grown hastily, 
bending, twisting,
holding fast its ground. 
Uprooting and uplifting, 
claiming all within reach."

The Sacral Trees - Concerto for Clarinet and Band (Piano Reduction)

Concerto for Clarinet in A and Wind Ensemble
(with Piano Reduction)

Composed by Franklin Piland
Commissioned by Micheal Muñoz for his nephews, Jayce Abraham and Jordan Thomas
Inspired by "The Sacral Tree Poems" by Sam Reese

Shih-wen Fan, clarinet
Ben Corbin, piano

Jake Moon, recording engineer
Franklin Piland, producer/recording mix

May 30, 2016
The University of Texas at Austin

I. The Fig Tree

III. The Ash

II. The Willow in the Water

Franklin Piland (b. 1990, he/him) is an American Indian conductor of wind bands, an active music educator, and a composer of contemporary music.

Franklin earned his Bachelor of Music in Music Performance (Winds and Percussion) from Eastern New Mexico University in 2013 and his Master of Music in Music Composition from The University of Texas at Austin in 2016. He has minors and special studies in music composition, music technology, and wind band conducting.

Piland remains active in many diverse facets of the music industry, including composition, education, performance, administration, production, rehearsing/directing, coaching, and clinic-ing ensembles, music, or directors seeking mentorship. Despite all of his numerous obligations and responsibilities, Franklin is a lover of tennis, painting, and Batman (though oddly enough he has yet to paint Batman playing tennis).