Portraits of a City

This piece is a reflection on my experiences from when I lived in New York City when I was younger. There were certain emotions that simply being in the city would evoke in any person experiencing it. The two movements are of contrasting style and each have their own musical influences as well as extramusical influences. The musical material in each movement reflects the experiences I wanted to capture.

The first movement begins with an empty and ambiguous sound, to reflect the uncertainty that one might have while navigating the city. The music quickly grows to an expansive volume and range, representing the massive and looming buildings of downtown. The second movement is a fanfare, conveying the triumphant feeling of standing atop a skyscraper and looking over the city, above it all. The title of the movement is, of course, also a quote from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, which is itself a tribute to the city of Chicago.

These two musically distinct movements come together to convey the unique and invigorating feelings of the city, whether as a person living in the city or as a tourist, visiting to see the sights.

Spectrum, March 16, 2026