Quintet No. 1 “Oxymorons”

Wind Quintet

2026

Bassoon

Clarinet

Flute

Horn

Oboe

Program Notes: Quintet No. 1 “Oxymorons” was written for the Nova Woodwind Quintet in Boone, North Carolina. When writing the first movement, I was writing a piece that I wanted to be played frantically, almost with nerves, while slow in tempo. How could that be possible, as frantically and slow tend to be opposites? Thus, I settled on the idea of oxymorons as the basis of this piece. The second movement, starting with a twelve tone row presented by the clarinet, also is a tone poem, exploring different sounds and extended techniques, specifically in the flute and clarinet. The third movement, “Heavy Scherzo,” is a reworking of the second movement of my two clarinet and piano piece Modern Times. I thought the movement would adapt well for woodwind quintet and would explore the original ideas with new orchestrations.
Publisher: BNB Publications