Polygon
for Brass Quintet

Like the geometric figure of the same name, POLYGON presents a closed structure of tangent themes with but one common center. The center is an eight-pitch motto sequence stated at the beginning by the horn, consisting of a three-pitch descending figure repeated one step lower and followed by a turn upward. Although the full motto is heard frequently, the three-pitch descending figure soon becomes a motivic obsession of the work. This motive is found embedded in subsequent themes and transitions and occurs in a variety of background guises; even the tonal centers marking the ends of the three movements trace its shape.

POLYGON was the winner of the 1993 Fine Arts Award, a national composition contest for chamber music held annually by Illinois State University. The composer was Guest Composer at the university's Fine Arts Festival in November of 1993, where the work received its premiere.

POLYGON was also awarded Third Place in the Chamber Composition Division of the 2013 American Prizes, national awards celebrating excellence in the arts.

Published by Metamorphic Music.