Program Notes:

High Spirits is a rhythmic étude for symphony orchestra. The piece grew out of a transitional period of my life during which I moved from New York City to San Francisco. The title refers to a specific emotional atmosphere present within San Francisco from the perspective of an east-coast transplant: an infectious excitement that carries with it a darker, more mystical undercurrent. 

The piece begins with an irregular scherzo rhythm which uses open strings in the violins to create an energized resonance. This figure is quickly interrupted by a swooping brass chord which sets up the main dichotomy of the piece between harmonically directional pulsing figures and harmonically blurred moments in which the groove becomes suspended. After a brief climax, the wash seems to take over, as the pulse of the scherzo gradually fades in the harp, piano and vibraphone. The groove has now slowed to an out-of-sync echo of bass pizzicato, timpani strokes, and piano chords. A clear melody in the solo violin emerges over this texture, which drifts in and out of cooler emotional tones before being taken up by all of the strings in an emotive climax. With this newly acquired melodic spirit, the piece embraces pulsation again and, in an unrelenting crescendo, returns with exuberance to the opening idea.

I'd like to extend my gratitude to Conductor Scott Sandmeier and the Conservatory Orchestra for their hard work in premiering this piece. I want to especially thank my teacher Professor David Conte for his incredible mentorship and guidance throughout the writing of this composition.

Duration: 8 minutes