Winner of the 2022 Alex Shapiro Prize
​Finalist for the 2024 American Prize

Consortium Members:
University of North Texas
Bowling Green State University
Central Michigan University
Eastern Michigan University
University of Akron
Ohio University
Wright State University

Program Note:
When you stand next to the water on the St. Lawrence River, or one of the five Great Lakes, you can feel an approaching ship long before you can see it. What begins as a low rumble grows to a mechanical, metallic, repetitive drone that interacts and dances with the natural sounds of the waterways. On rare occurrences two ships will pass each other in front of you, and when that happens at night it’s an incredibly memorable and musical experience.

The container ships that make their way along the Northeast shipping routes of the US have come from all over the world. They may interact with the natural surroundings on the waterways, but they are separate communities from those on the shore. These floating cities have passed me for my entire life. I frequently traveled to the St. Lawrence River as a child; I was married there while a ship passed, and I know that when I see a one in Toledo, Detroit, or Chicago that it had to have passed a place I call home to get there."

How it was Made
Ships' Passing was an idea that struck in 2011. I had heard a wind ensemble work by Marilyn Shrude and brainstormed the form of this work the very next day. I knew it would be my  first wind ensemble work, but I wasn't in a rush to write it, I just let the timing work itself out. I finally had the opportunity to write it after connecting with a few band directors at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in December 2019. Of course, as soon as I was set to start writing this piece I suddenly had to rethink everything because the world shut down...

Luckily, the form for Ships' Passing had always included an aleatoric section as the opening... one that reflects the natural surroundings of the river. I had written several timer based aleatoric works in the past so I decided to make this aleatoric section in to a stand-alone work that could be performed over zoom. The latency we experienced in rehearsals over zoom was taken into consideration and written into the score. 

I also knew that the end would be a fanfare, and I quickly shifted the instrumentation to ensure that it could be performed by socially distanced players. University of North Texas performers performed it as such in 2021:
After composing these two independent works, I connected them into a full 10 minute piece that starts with an aleatoric section, moves into a rhythmic section (where the ships enter the scene), and ends with a fanfare fitting the river I know and love. ​

Instrumentation:
Instrument list:
Piccolo
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
English Horn
2 Bassoons
Contrabassoon
E-flat Clarinet
4 B-flat Clarinets
Bass Clarinet
2 Alto Saxophones
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

Harp
Piano

4 Horns in F
3 B-flat Trumpets 
2 Tenor Trombones
1 Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba

Timpani
6 Percussionists:
Percussion 1: Seed Shell Shaker • Tubular Bells • Suspended Cymbal • Marimba • Toms
Percussion 2: Bass Drum • Wooden Wind Chimes • Claves
Percussion 3: Anvil or Break Drum • Tam Tam • Wooden Wind Chimes
Percussion 4: Woodblocks • Snare Drum • Crash Cymbals • Temple Blocks • Triangle
Percussion 5: Temple Blocks • Tam Tam • Crash Cymbals
Percussion 6: Xylophone • Field Drum • Mark Tree • Woodblocks