Cosmology

Program Notes

Cosmology is a five-movement piece for woodwind quintet, based in my love of outer space. The first movement, Halley’s, refers to Halley’s comet, which I remember watching with my dad when I was in grade school. The second movement, Stately Grace, is inspired by a quote from Michael Collins: “We are gliding across the world in total silence, with absolute smoothness; a motion of stately grace which makes me feel godlike as I stand erect in my sideways chariot, cruising the night sky.” The third movement is named after the constellation Musca, which represents a fly. The fourth movement, no trace of age, is inspired by the Ralph Waldo Emerson poem below. The fifth movement reflects the excitement of its title, Escape Velocity, which is about 7 miles a second.

Teach me your mood,
O patient stars.
Who climb each night,
the ancient sky.
leaving on space, no shade, no scars,
no trace of age, no fear to die.