Western Serenade

Western Serenade was a project that percolated for a few years. I began this piece when I was a student with the intention of sending it to a composition competition. I composed the first 29 measures and then left it to do another project. The sketch sat in a pile for a few years until I came in contact with Karl Wentzel. Karl requested a piece for the same instrumentation; a piece perform himself and to have for his students to perform. On getting this request, I dug out that sketch and completed the piece. I think it is a fine example of my progression from a student to a more honed composer. Western Serenade begins with a nice pastoral melody tossed back and forth between the two soloists. The piece then alternates between pastoral and dramatic moods and closes with an exciting and surprising presto coda. This version of Western Serenade was written for flute and piano.