Taking Flight

"Taking Flight, composed for brass ensemble and percussion, was written for the 10th anniversary of the Kennesaw State University Dr. Bobbie Bailey and Family Performance Center. The music represents the development and the improvements that both Kennesaw State University and the School of Music have made in just a decade. With the addition of the Central Parking Deck (2008), the Commons Dining Hall opening (2009), the soccer/football stadium opening (2010), as well as the inaugural season for the football team and marching band (2015), the university and school of music have made substantial progress in just the last 10 years that has paved a path for excellence for the future of such a high-class institution.

The score implies that not one single instrument or section is more important than another. While some sections may carry a melodic, harmonic, or accompanimental role for a majority of the piece, each aspect of the music is important, and each section has their time to shine, just as no one area of KSU or the School of Music is more important. Each part works together to produce the final product that is, in this case, Taking Flight.

The harmonic form of Taking Flight remains mostly consistent, even if it modulates to a different tonal center. This represents the core values of KSU and the School of Music remaining consistent, even during change within the university. The music is a build up from the initial statement of the theme near the beginning until the very end. More and more sections or section groups are given melodic content until near the end when the melody is split up contrapuntally and the entire ensemble isn't in unison until the very last measure, creating an exciting ending at triple-F!"