Refractions
Concert Band
ca. 2'30"
Grade 3
Inspired by the unpredictable behavior of refracted light, this energetic opener constantly shifts color, texture, and momentum.
AT A GLANCE
Style
Energetic • Rhythmic • Contemporary
Selected Performances & Recognition
🏆 2024 Winner – WASBE International Composition Competition
🏆 2025 Semi-finalist – Sousa-ABA-Ostwald Composition Contest
National Chiayi University Department of Music Wind Orchestra
WASBE Conference (Gwangju, South Korea)
Illinois Junior All-State Band
Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA) Conference
Honor Bands throughout the United States
What Makes It Unique
Mature musical content without advanced technical demands allows ensembles to focus on ensemble musicianship, color, and expression rather than technical survival.
Musical Influences
Satoshi Yagisawa – March-Bou-Shu
Brian Balmages
Frank Ticheli
Leonard Bernstein – Candide Overture
Why I Wrote This Piece
Written as part of the Purposeful Repertoire Collection to demonstrate that accessible music can still be artistically mature, colorful, and exciting.
Instrumentation
Flute I-II
Oboe divisi
Bassoon divisi
Clarinet in Bb I-II-III
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone I-II
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet in Bb I-II-III
Horn I-II
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
5 Percussion
Notes
• Doublings and cues throughout to support successful performances by a wide variety of ensembles
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PROGRAM NOTE
Refraction | ri’frakʃ(ə)n | noun [mass noun]
Physics- the fact or phenomenon of light, radio waves, etc. being deflected in passing obliquely through the interface between one medium and another or through a medium of varying density.
Change in direction of propagation of any wave as a result of its travelling at different speeds at different points along the wave front.
-from Oxford Languages
While it can be played as a stand-alone piece, this work was written to be performed in tandem with Light Descending. The two pieces were part of the 2023 Purposeful Repertoire Consortium and were composed with musical elements and the theme of “light” in common to create separate but complimentary works. (Similar to the common practice of performing Grainger’s Irish Tune with the shorter Shepherd’s Hey.)
Original Cover Photo by
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