What Is Eternally Unseen

William Robert "Roddy" Hull taught numerous students in his 35 years at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. He instructed clarinet and saxophone during his tenure there. He instilled in his students the desire to achieve perfection and taught them what it means to be a musician. "Mr. Hull" had high expectations, and his guidance made sure his students met those expectations. It was not easy to be one of his students, but ultimately, that is what made his instruction so invaluable. I was fortunate enough to be one of Mr. Hull's saxophone students. Of course, at the time I was too young to realize how fortunate I was. When I began composing and decided to change my major he wanted to be my first composition instructor. Once again, as a composition teacher he taught me the value of seeking perfection through the art of writing music. He did not allow me to use a computer. Everything needed to be hand written. Creating scores and parts was a time consuming activity, but I learned a great deal by working with him. There was a particular week when I had spent numerous hours completing a woodwind quintet, and as a result, I had neglected my saxophone practice. I got to my lesson hoping he would not notice. Of course, he did, and I never will forget what he said: "I understand that you're a composer now, but that does not mean you get to stop being a musician." He was right. As I have grown older, I have also grown to appreciate those words. There were times when his honesty cut deep. However, Mr. Hull's honesty was perhaps his greatest quality, because there were also those times following a performance when he would walk up and grab you, look you straight in the eyes with a smile on his face, and say "Great job! I'm so proud of you!" The title of this piece is inspired by two quotes. The first is 2 Corinthians 4:18 (KJV): "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." "Invisible, as Music, but Positive, as Sound" is a quote from Emily Dickinson's poem, "This World Is Not Conclusion." These quotes did not shape the piece itself, but I feel that they combined to define a work written in memory of "Roddy" Hull. There are multiple themes throughout the work. One important theme is based on the Alma Mater of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, which is where Mr. Hull spent his career teaching. The rest of the themes come from the woodwind quintet I composed while studying composition with him. He also conducted the college's woodwind ensemble, so there is some emphasis on this ensemble within the work. Mr. Hull's primary instruments were clarinet and saxophone, so the piece concludes with dialogue between those instruments.