Wednesday, February 01, 2006


Have you ever tried to write music for high school ensembles? I have written a little set of pieces for high school wind band, called Southern Harmony - based on tunes from the shape note tradition (the melodies are from two collections - the Sacred Harp and Southern Harmony). It is an interesting experience to write music for young ensembles, one must simplify one's usual extravagant and lavish use of complex patterns, without being mindless. It is not an easy thing to do, I have to say. Here is a MIDI version of the first movement, Kedron. I would put the third movement on (All is Well), but I am busily rewriting it.