Montour Overture

Before I was old enough to drive, my bike was my car. My best friends lived in a neighborhood on the other side of town, and I was constantly on my bike either going to and from their houses, or on the trail that ran close to my house. I love the mindlessness of biking, and how I can turn my brain off and enjoy being outside with the wind in my face. This piece is about my memories of those bike rides as a kid.

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The piece follows the general flow of my rides on the trail, with setting off and riding away from home, resting and enjoying nature, and then riding back home. The primarily melody is meant to float overtop a rhythmic undercurrent, just as your upper body stays still whilst your lower body does all of the pedaling. I also included a bunch of cycling sound effects in the music itself. The whip is the kickstand, the glockenspiel rolls and woodwind trills at m.22 are the bike bell, the rachet is shifting gears, and the flute/oboe trills at m. 73 are birds singing. The rallentando/accelerando starting at m. 33 is supposed to represent going up (and down) a hill, accompanied by rising harmonies on the way up, and falling harmonies on the way down.

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Alfred Reed's concert band music has always had a big impact on me, and in particular, The Hounds of Spring served as a great sense of inspiration for this piece.

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The piece is soon to be recorded by the Pittsburgh Creator's Project Symphonic Winds, so check back soon for a recording!