Shifting Sands

for Concert Band

Sheet music for Shifting Sands will be available in August 2025.

Program Note: Shifting Sands is an energetic and rhythmically dynamic work whose ever-changing meters keep both performers and listeners engaged.

For me, titling an instrumental work is often challenging—especially when the music begins as absolute rather than programmatic. A title inevitably shapes how a listener perceives the piece, influencing their interpretation. In this case, Shifting Sands emerged only after the composition was complete, inspired by its shifting time signatures that flow unpredictably, much like sand moved by the wind.

Life imitates art, and perhaps the opposite is true as well. Just as this piece moves through constant changes, life is a series of shifting moments. Some unexpected and disorienting, others rewarding and triumphant. How we navigate these changes depends on where we place our foundation.

This work was born from my ongoing passion for creating meaningful music for wind ensemble/concert band. I am deeply grateful to Jack Stamp for his invaluable guidance throughout the composition process. His insights and practical suggestions brought this piece to life in ways I could not have anticipated.