The Beginning of Spring

This year, the beginning of the Spring season will be Thursday, March 19th (according to Google), two days from today. I think it’s fair to say that the beginning of Spring this year will be part of very strange time for the United States (where I live) and for the world - most particularly and obviously contributing to this is the worldwide coronavirus/COVID-19 epidemic. I’ve been silent about it thus far, because it’s a large and complex issue that I know very little about, and I strongly prefer to listen rather than speak. After giving it some thought, I’ve found a few things to say.

This virus has impacted the life of every single person I know in one way or another, and usually in quite a substantial way. For me, the most notable impact is Illinois State University’s shift to online instruction for the remainder of the spring semester. Because of this shift, I am home in Texas instead of back in Illinois, and I am losing time with my friends, time playing in ensembles, and otherwise losing time studying for a music degree in the only way it is truly possible to get one. However, not only do I acknowledge that ISU’s decision was the right one, but I acknowledge that the way it has impacted me is next to nothing compared to the way it has impacted many others. I am still here, at my home, spending time with my family, with everything I need to succeed during this strange time, and there are so many who do not have these luxuries. As a composer, I’ve lost two upcoming world premieres (you for trumpet quartet, Magic for percussion octet) and performances of my work (some planned performances of O rose of May), and as time progresses I may potentially lose more. Despite the disappointment of these lost opportunities to share music, I know in my heart that the decisions made were the right ones to make, and that I care much more about the health of my society than I do about my personal successes. So, in a way, I am thankful for the postponement of these performances. And, because I was going to be unable to be present for the two previously mentioned world premieres, I am even excited for the prospect that I may get to be present for them at a later date.

In the midst of all of this, right before the beginning of Spring, there is one bit of very exciting news for me to share: I have completed the reduction of my upcoming concerto for trombone, The Beginning of Spring! The full wind ensemble version is only partially complete, and I transitioned into composing the reduction first to combat writers block and finish the piece in a timely fashion. I have been working on this piece for just over a year, and I am so incredibly ecstatic to have finally put all the pieces together. The next month or two will be dedicated to band-estrating the first and third movements (the second movement was already complete before I transitioned to the reduction). While this reduction is currently scheduled for an April world premiere, it’s hard to say if that will remain in our current times.

I cannot overstate my thankfulness to LeAndre Benton, my commissioner and former high school band director, and to John Romero, who will be performing the premiere of the work. It has been a joy and a privilege to work with John - he is a brilliant, thoughtful, kind person and an incredibly skilled trombonist, and his input has been invaluable to the creation of this work. I’ve already heard him play some snippets of the piece, and it is knock-your-socks-off good.

I can’t help but share when I’m excited. So, here it is! A MIDI mockup of the entire piece and a score to follow along. Enjoy the music!

I wish you all a safe and healthy few months. I’ll be chilling at home for the next few weeks, taking care of online classes, playing video games (I’ll be playing my first Animal Crossing game in a few days!), checking in on my friends and loved ones, and self-isolating to do my part in preventing the spread of the coronavirus. I hope you’ll join me (from a safe distance). Much love, friends. - H