Classical Compositions

Classical treatment to the well-known hymn written by Horatio G. Spafford after losing his wife and daughters on a sea voyage. As he traveled the ocean to reclaim his family’s effects, he asked the captain to ring the bell at the exact spot his family was lost. The words to this song came as he threw flowers into the watery grave. This piece was played and received great reviews from critics at Carnegie Hall when performed in 2007 by the American Festival Symphony in a show featuring American Gospel Music.

This piece is an original orchestral suite mirroring the excitement, trauma, success, and validation of Steve’s move to Nashville, TN. Using visual projection, the composer speaks directly to the audience in an interweaving of thought and emotion. The entire piece runs approximately fifty minutes, but can be performed as individual pieces with lengths varying from two minutes to eleven minutes.

The following tabs include the individual pieces

This movement features electric bass, Steve’s first musical instrument. The composition is built in 4ths since the bass is tuned in 4ths not 5ths.

This composition is a walk through compositional history. Beginning with a very simple melody, it is developed with sounds from the Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th Century influences.

This piece uses sounds from 50’s television and commercial music. Best described as traveling music, the rapidly moving strings is classic to the era it represents.

A short but emotional movement, Bitter Sweet represents the sadness of endings contrasted to the joy of new beginnings.

This composition uses sounds from 1960s horror films, progresses into a totally atonal section that is written to make the audience feel slightly uncomfortable or anxious, and concludes with a Hollywood chase scene. This movement also features nontraditional instruments like pipe and hacksaw, breaking glass, screen door, choir making sound effects, and concludes with a gunshot and scream.

A very dark melody conveys the human experience of sorrow that comes from fear and loss. The melody is almost Russian sounding and demonstrates a rich texture.

Who says you can’t laugh at the symphony? This composition is by far the most popular of the suite having many viewings on the Internet. At times it is “slap-stick” yet there are moments of higher intellectual humor. The orchestra can’t seem to conclude the piece as it ends, and ends, and finally ends. Laughter will abound.

If you liked Henry Mancini or Nelson Riddle, you will like this lush, beautiful, pop/romantic work. Meant to demonstrate how music can give you a “warm and fuzzy feeling,” this piece will leave you smiling.

The longest of the compositions, this inspirational work includes a baritone/tenor soloist and choir. The original text is deeply moving and has evoked testimonials from many musicians and others from the creative world. The text explores the idea that talent is a gift—and sometimes a curse—from God. If you were given this gift you have an obligation to use it and God will judge you as to how faithful you have been in using and prospering your gift.

An original composition written in tribute to Claude Debussy, scored to mimic the style of the great composer and the sound of his French orchestra.

Literally meaning “a house-hold, or collection of three, this original composition is written for string quartet, yet at no point do more than three people play at a time. The meter is in three, the main theme, the phrases, and the use of tuplets all are centered around the number three.

Beautiful arrangement of this beautiful melody.