Concert Compositions

During the summer of 2020, I was dealing with emotional strife and depression. Instead of letting those emotions get the better of me, I wanted to put all of that and the energy into my work and thus Persevering was what came out of it. Originally scored for Pierrot ensemble, Persevering is a three-movement work with a purpose to bring forth the attributes of perseverance, showcasing three relatable scenarios. The movements are titled:

1. Gradually Overwhelming is the feeling of anxiety and depression collaborating together to combat my emotional well-being.

2. Loneful Endeavors starts out with the vibraphone being ‘The Loneful Endeavor’. What to look for in this movement is the pairing, for each pair represents a couple, a relationship and how each pair blends into the texture as the next pair comes in.

3. Worth the Wait is the homestretch, the feeling that you have successfully persevered…for the moment.

"Persevering" 2022 for Chamber Orchestra

As Christmas time rolls around, one has unexpectedly taken a major loss, someone very close to them. Roses in December hopes to convey to the audience some of the emotional stages this unnamed person has greatly experienced from the exposition of the terrible and upsetting news to the calm and pleasant conclusion.

The work starts off with a somber drone in the low winds, with the main theme introduced by the Bass Clarinet. This theme is passed around through a clarinet chorale and a solo with the Alto Sax. 

Next, comes the "Funereal" section similar to "Funeral" which acts to portray the funeral march from the service to the graveyard. This starts with a quiet pulse from the low winds, then the horns take hold of the reigns and lead the march. 

After that, comes the inevitable waterworks. If you did not shed a tear beforehand, you will hear. The main theme is expressed once again, but in the Trumpets and Clarinets with the full ensemble giving off feelings of sorrow...distress...grief.

Then finally, the final section of the piece comes to a peaceful, but spirited resolution. "Everything is going to be okay. I may have lost someone very close to me, but what I did not lose is my will to remember them for as long as I live."

Roses In December for Wind Ensemble (2018) (MIDI realization)

A Day Made (for Saxophone and Cello) (2019)

Until the Fuse Lights (2020) is a programmatic work of a classic story of heroism and is
divided into four continuous sections: Peaceful; Devastation; Reflection; Redemption. The
introduction showcases the heroic themes that will come up frequently as the piece progresses.
Theme 1 is played by the flute at the beginning, supported with an atmospheric texture from the
strings and the like, and develops into a mysterious mood foreshadowing the terror and chaos the
will ensue. Theme 2 consists of a pattern of descending major thirds, representing the antagonist
once it’s chromatically altered later, first introduced in the horn under a more jovial mask
making it hard to find the antagonist. The antagonist plans many attacks and terrorizes the
citizens with a massive detonation device that will certainly level the area and miles around it.
The ending shows the hero stopping the detonation and defeating the villain as he sees the error
of his ways and accepts justice.

Until The Fuse Lights For Orchestra (2020)

Performed by the Student Symphony Orchestra at Univeristy of Southern California. Premiered May 1st, 2021

Fanfare and Overture (2020), an exciting and brilliant concert opener, the piece features
two main themes with fragments from each passed around and explored using different colors
and textures. These two main themes, one of them being in the trumpets and trombones, which
symbolizes triumph and bravery, and the more bouncy, lyrical melody in the strings further on in
the piece, symbolizing jubilation and delight. These two figures interact throughout the A and B
sections before finally combining for the final section.
Instrumentation:
3223+4331+Timp+3+ Harp+Strings

Fanfare and Overture For Orchestra (2020)

www.joejaxsonmusic.com
~Joe Jaxson is a composer whose music challenges the familiar and connects with his audience while pursuing versatility in writing in numerous styles and genres ranging from Contemporary Classical to Cinematic Screen Scoring.