Lift–Off

Lift-Off is a very quick and energetic piece, not quite three minutes long. It was written when NASA was returning the Space Shuttle to flight in 2005 and is a celebration of human space exploration. There are very few delicate moments in this piece, and I concentrate more on large gestures and thick orchestration. Highly pointed rhythmic sections give way to richly harmonized melodic sections, with an almost constant rushing of 16th notes throughout the entire piece. It is a thrilling ride for both the performers and the audience.

Lift-Off was commissioned by Andrew Lane and the Sarasota Orchestra Symphony Association. It was premiered by the Sarasota Orchestra Youth Philharmonic sitting side by side with the professional musicians on November 13, 2006. There is also a transcription for wind ensemble, and it was premiered by H Robert Reynolds and the University of Southern California Thornton Wind Ensemble on October 21, 2007.

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