Description
From the composer: “Nature’s Way for intermediate level band was commissioned by BandQuest, a project initiated by the American Composers Forum. Their mission is for major composers of national reputation to write works of high quality that take into consideration the (stillcomparatively limited) levels of musical development–both technical an d conceptual–typical of such ensembles. I eagerly accepted the commission and the challenges implied thereby–that is, to reign in my creative imagination to some extent and limit the technical/conceptual demands toa more moderate level than is to be found in my previous compositions f or band. Nonetheless, since the process of rehearsing, studying and performing a work created specifically for the school student market is–andmust be, in my view–primarily educational, it was very clear to me tha t my work would (and should) challenge the players at least to their toplevels, and even a little beyond that. Thus Nature’s Way in no w ay represents a compromise of my personal style, nor my long held concepts of form, continuity, texture, and instrumentation. I have known for along time that young, inquisitive minds are eager to learn from new exp eriences, from previously never encountered challenges, that is to say, to be pushed–gently–to rise above their present levels of achievement.That’s what education is all about.”