Among the Stately Pines - Tuba Quartet

Among the Stately Pines was inspired by the campus of Interlochen Center for the Arts, where I worked part-time during the summer of 2021. Interlochen, both the town and the campus, has a rich history. One of the defining features of Interlochen has been the pines which dot the roadsides, and which help define the hiking trails scattered throughout the area.

This work for euphonium-tuba ensemble attempts to capture the pride, history, nostalgia, and progressive character of the institution of Interlochen Center for the Arts. Beyond its reflection on the campus of ICA, though, it is a reflection on the qualities of those places which lodge themselves in our memories. These places continue to pull us toward them, exerting their magnetism no matter how far we move beyond them.

One might imagine that our minds are forests filled with stately pines, that we continually hike trails which lead us to and from our most treasured memories. This work, then, provides a chance for audiences to lose themselves in the best of their pasts while looking hopefully toward the future.