I’m currently in the process of writing my first symphony. The initial idea for my Symphony No 1 came from the dense pine forests that surrounded me while I was still living in southern Mississippi. Before I began writing, I gathered pictures of pine forests and forest canopies to serve as inspiration. The work as a whole is inspired by the idea of a walk through a dense pine forest. Over the past several years, I’ve become increasingly inspired by nature even though I’m highly allergic to most of it. I can write and enjoy pastoral music without the need for zyrtec.
My Symphony No 1 is a slow symphony. I mean tempo-wise. It doesn’t follow the traditional pattern of Fast-Slow-Fast for a three movement symphony, it is more of a Slow-Slow-Slightly Faster piece. The first movement is a walk through the forest. The forest is calm with some animal movement here and there and leaves rustling from the wind. The second movement is the idea of the tree canopy looming overhead during the walk. You’ll hear chords moving around the saxophone orchestra creating the various textures of the forest canopy with its different trees forming contrasting shapes. The third movement is a continued walk through the dense forest in the morning as animals and insects are more active. There are bird calls, and more movement within the ensemble. The ensemble builds in intensity as the oppressive Southern heat ramps upward.