Life Painting

Life Painting began with a walk through Centennial Park in Nashville, Tennessee, on a pleasant April morning. After a long winter in Minnesota, the many blooming trees and flowers were quite welcome. I soon noticed a variety of people, both young and old, stationed around a pond. As I got closer, I realized they were all painting. The idea of so many people interested in creating art was inspiring. In turn, I was reminded of the sheer joy composing music brings to me. Life Painting was written to help encourage others to never stop adding beauty to this world.

Performance Considerations:

The snare drum, suspended cymbal and tam-tam play a prominent role throughout the work. Because of this, they should be placed at or near the front of the stage. Wire brushes should be used for all three, and a heavier brush with the tam-tam is preferred. Depending on a variety of variables, dynamics in these parts may need to be slightly adjusted to achieve a proper balance in relation to the rest of the ensemble.