Hustle and Bustle

This jazz-inspired concert overture (ABA′ + Coda) is a tribute to the busy downtown atmosphere of my hometown, Mobile, Alabama. Though often overshadowed by nearby New Orleans, Mobile is a city rich in American and musical history. The A sections are fast and lively, drawing inspiration from the constant motion of street performers and honking cars that define the city’s soundscape. In contrast, the slower B section features an extended bassoon solo, evoking a moment of calm—like sitting in Cathedral Square Park beneath the massive old oak trees that shade the space. The final section serves as a fanfare to the future. Percussion and woodwinds grow increasingly hectic, creating an almost chaotic groove beneath triumphant high brass that restates an altered version of the bassoon’s earlier melody.