This is a piece I wrote starting in 2024 and finishing in summer of 2025. This is my first saxophone quartet that I have composed and I wanted to try to create an air of the soprano saxophone going somewhat rogue and having to be roped back into the group as a whole, however as the piece progressed I had an idea with a few of the larger harmonized licks to be more rebellious sounding while also giving the tenor and alto saxophones solos in the middle of the piece. The last section creates a return to a less rebellious and described as an almost "Messianic" sound of longing to be forgiven for their acting out.

DevIOus for Saxophone Quartet

This is a Flute, Clarinet, and Piano trio written in 2025 by Michael Dolese. This piece is special to me since this is the first piece I have written outside of percussion which is my primary instrument. This piece "Songs I Shouldn't've Heard" is a battle of the self. With 3 movements titled "Introduction: False Face", "Fear of the Future" and "A Renaissance of Self" this piece explores environments where you might not have been meant to grow, but ended up thriving on sheer willpower anyways. It starts with a false sense of security with the freedom to explore the ranges of the piano almost like a discovery, but quickly turns into a wall of laughter with almost mocking sounds coming from the Clarinet in A and Flute. This piece leads to "Fear of the Future" which starts with a spacious Alto Flute solo which develops and gets mocked again but this time with a Bass Clarinet playing a lick in the lower register of the instrument. The piano comes in and provides a rhythmic sense of driving until becoming a bell in the distance after having an epiphany. These bells lead to the 3rd movement "A Renaissance of Self" where the instruments all become centered around one groove in the piano and finally have the confidence to take solos of their own with their unique personalities. This piece ends with a sting of uncertainty as this battle of self is never ending and always evolving.

Songs I Shouldn't've Heard

This is my arrangement of Africa by Toto for Steel Band that I arranged for the University of Arizona Steel Cats! This score is purchasable on my website, if there are any questions about the arrangement please let me know! 

Africa (Steel Band)

This is an arrangement and adaptation inspired by the 8 bit Big Band that I have made work for the University of Arizona Steel Cats! This was originally premiered at Tucson's Field of Steel Steel Pan Festival in April of 2025

Bomb omb Soca (Steel Band)

Just the Two of Us (Steel Band)

This piece is set to be officially premiered in Spring of 2026 at Radford University on Megan Whatley's Master's Recital. This piece was originally written in 2023 while I was finishing my Masters at James Madison University. This piece "Half Silver" is all about miscommunication. There are instances where parts should line up fairly simply, rather it becomes an obstacle for them to be seen on the same page. The primarily 16th note based marimba part clashes with the flute part that would perform primarily triplet based rhythms. This piece has its moments of unity, but they are very limited. Half Silver is another term for a one way mirror, one person can see everything that's going on that sometimes another is too blind to see beyond their own reflection.

Half Silver

This is a duo for Marimba and Cello. Enjoy!

Encounters

Percussionist and Composer based out of Tucson, Arizona currently working on a DMA in Percussion with a minor in Composition

DevIOus for Saxophone Quartet

Michael Dolese

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