Matthew Kennedy

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An exciting, groove-based concert closer, SUSHI STEGOSAURUS is rhythmic blast for any entry-level collegiate or upper-level high school saxophone ensemble. The work was commissioned by The Young Saxophonist's Institute.

Sushi Stegosaurus

Saxophone Ensemble

FIRST delves into the intricate journey of a first-generation person, expressing the essence of their experience through an exploration of trials, errors, and the often-misunderstood opportunities that shape their path. The work delves into the challenges posed by an unfamiliar landscape, where the goal posts seem to shift continually under the influence of those possessing more institutional knowledge and clout. The composition's five movements are points of reflection on the persistent feeling of failure to coalesce in often dynamic and demanding environments. FIRST serves to examine the complexities of existing in an unknown space, inviting listeners to contemplate the many facets of the collective cultural perspective that defines the first-generation experience.

This work was commissioned by a consortium including Robert Benton (University of Nebraska-Kearney, Consortium Organizer), Kyohei Ando (Kunitachi College), Amy Schumaker Bliss (Freelance - Lewis Center, OH), Mark Carlson (Mount St. Mary's University), John Hart (Keene State College/Los Angeles Philharmonic YOLA), Erik Lundquist (United States Air Force Band), Joel Pugh (University of North Dakota), Jared Sherman (Freelance - Red Oak, IA), William Sutton (Northwest Missouri State University), and Jonah Zimmerman (Florida State University)

First

Euphonium Solo with Piano

Impatient Youth is a spastic joyride fueled by fleeting youthful energy,
  full of starts and stops and bright new ideas. Material ranges from light
  footed heroism to tongue-in-cheek sarcasm, peppered with small moments of
  epiphany and quiet realizations. Commissioned by the Heidelberg University
  Woodwind Quintet.

Impatient Youth

Woodwind Ensemble

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In writing All The Bright Precious Things, I sat out to explore a great
  many unknowns. There are but a handful of works written for violin and wind
  ensemble, and even fewer taking the form of a violin concerto. The work was
  commissioned and brought to life by collaborator and dear friend, Michelle
  Kim-Painter. Together we ventured out into the unexplored and uncharted to
  find what might be possible within the exciting (and ever-expanding) world of
  wind ensemble repertoire. 
    
    
    
    Bubblegum Pop! is a coloristic collage of youthful energy, replete with
  starts and stops with every unexpected turn or hiccup we encounter. Half of
  the adventure is getting lost in the journey along the way.
    
    
    
    Wax Rhapsodic pays homage to a wealth of repertoire that we more commonly
  see the violin written within, full of allusions to masterworks for the
  instrument including the Bach Violin Partitas and Sibelius Violin Concerto.
  Moments range from tender and naive to wild and virtuosic all with a wink of
  the eye and tongue firmly planted in-cheek. 
    
    
    
    Fade So Fast takes its title from the conclusion of the F. Scott
  Fitzgerald quote from which the title of the full work is taken. All the
  bright precious things fade so fast, and they dont come back. (The Great
  Gatsby, 1925). The movement shares elements of a concerto for orchestra along
  with a standalone concerto finale, pushing ensemble virtuosity as much as the
  soloist. The quiet naivete of the previous movement and the youthful vigor of
  the opening movement now are combined into a nostalgic high wire act,
  balancing the individual within the group and what it means to lose yourself
  in the wandering; lost becoming found and lost again.

All The Bright Precious Things

Concert Band Score & Parts

Immerse yourself in the fluid melodious journey of "Ripple" by Matthew Kennedy. Perfect for concerts and contests, this piece captivates with its dynamic movement and emotional depth. A masterful composition that challenges performers while enchanting audiences. Dive in and let the powerful currents of "Ripple" sweep you away. - Note: This music is composed by humans. No human-written product description is available, limiting search visibility. The AI-assisted description is for reference only.

Ripple

SYMPHONY NO. 3 is a collection of four memory spaces honoring friends, colleagues, mentors, and a beloved family pet who have passed from this life. Composed as part of the TENX40 Project  wherein the composer aims to complete ten symphonies by the age of 40  this work reflects on themes of the transient nature of our existence, grapples with questions of agency, and the considers the exact moment when we transition from being to not being.

Each of the four movements serves as a memorial to those who have deeply influenced the composer's journey: a high school social studies teacher known for treating students equitably with profound respect and dignity; a college professor whose insights expanded students' understanding of their relationship with the world; a mentor who inspired confidence and the courage to pursue professional aspirations; and a cherished family pet whose sudden departure left an indelible mark on the hearts of those they loved. The titles of the movements are drawn from the composer's last conversations with each individual commemorated.

The subtitle of the work, "Death Is Nothing At All," is inspired by a speech and poem of the same name by English clergyman Henry Scott Holland (1847-1918). His poignant reflections have offered solace and encouraged the grieving to see life and death as interconnected, rather than opposing states, for more than 100 years. The climactic fourth movement features a narrator reciting this text, delivering a heartfelt "so long, farewell!" to those who shaped the composer's life. While the universal experience of longing for those we've lost is palpable, it is balanced by this idea of continuity  how their influence and spirit remain alive within us and in the stories we share.

Instrumentation: 3 Fl (pico), Ob, 3 Cl, B. Cl, 2 Bsn, 2 A Sax, T Sax, B Sax, 3 Tpt, 4 Hn, 3 Tbn, Euph, Tba, Cb, Synth, Narrator, Timpani, 6 perc.

Symphony No. 3: Death Is Nothing At All

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for mixed chorus and four soloists (SATB). Text by Joaquin des Prez ('Mille Regretz') and Matthew Kennedy

ABOUT THE WORK: Regret is an emotion we desperately try to avoid, though its presence in life is ubiquitous. Regret can be a cycle that is often difficult to overcome; a rut where we spin our figurative tires and lose traction. The fear of missing out, the fear of making the wrong choice, the wrong step: these can all cloud our judgment and stunt our forward motion. A Thing So Human As Regret takes the lion's share of its text from the French chanson Mille Regretz, believed to be written by 15th-16th century Franco-Flemish composer Josquin des Prez, obsessing over its repetition and wading through what could have went differently to avoid your remorse. We take final solace in the work by knowing what we are experiencing is one of the most universal of human emotions. In our grief we have stumbled upon community.


A THING SO HUMAN AS REGRET was commissioned and premiered by the 2023-2024 Heidelberg University Concert Choir

A Thing So Human As Regret

SATB

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