This piece tells the story of our Galaxy, of the great unknown and what lies beyond, and where we belong within this vastness of space.  The soloists and the ensemble paint a picture of this great mystery of the universe, taking us on a journey through the Spiral Galaxy, the Milky Way, and onto our own arm in the galaxy, the Orion Spur, where we dance the waltz of the Blue Planet.  Being pulled toward the Supermassive Black hole, the djembe lends a rhythmic background of mystery to this journey.  The bassoon, then joined by the solo oboe, begins to tell us a story of Dark Matter, "…an elementary particle that pervades the universe."  We then travel to the place where stars are born in "The Orion Nebula," quoting Carl Sagen from his book Cosmos that, "we are made of star-stuff."  Finally, we begin to leave the orion nebula to continue our journey again through the spiral galaxy, exploring the vastness of space as thematic material returns to carry us on this ever-continuing journey of exploration.

Commissioned by bassoonist Scott Pool and and premiered with Rogene Russell on oboe and the University of Texas at Arlington Wind Symphony under the direction of Doug Stotter in February 2013.  The European premiere of this work was given by the Banda Simfonica Municipal de Madrid under the direction of Rafael Sanz–Espert with Víctor M. Anchel, oboe and Enrique Abargues, bassoon.

This work is in one movement:

I. The Spiral Galaxy

II. Travelling through the Milky Way

III. The Orion Spur: The Blue Planet Waltz

IV. Supermassive Black Hole: Falling into the abyss…

V. Dark Matter: "…an elementary particle that pervades the universe."

VI. The Orion Nebula: "We are made of star-stuff."

…Flying through the Spiral Galaxy