Dream Atlas was commissioned by the University of Kentucky Percussion Studio.
I began to write Dream Atlas in the beginning of 2022 as sketches for Full Orchestra, inspired by a series of reoccurring dreams I had following the passing of my father in 2014. In the dreams, I would see vivid galaxies that brought extreme, yet confusing emotions to me, hence why I named each movement after “space-related environments. Later in life I would find out these dreams were “Nocturnal Panic Attacks.”
In the latter half of 2022, I began to adapt the themes I had developed into a Percussion Orchestra setting. I wanted the entire work to follow both the developing character narrative as well as the metaphoric development of a Nebula.
I: A Sea of Stars is the first movement and the exposition of the piece. The movement jumps from motif to motif at a rapid pace as we explore being lost in the stars.
II: Approaching Nova is the second moment, offering a temporary contrast to the first and third. This moment is much more open and legato with a dramatic twist of energy and texture as it develops.
III: Breaking Nebula is the final movement to the piece, traveling through all the motifs I had used in the previous two movements. I wanted to depict an overwhelming joy and appreciation for life and the moments we have together on Earth. While the comfort of our dreams seems to be a compelling distraction from reality, I have yet to find anything more beautiful than the people who I share my waking moments with.
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NEW WORKS
FREDERICK, MD is a piece I wrote to honor my family, especially my grandparents, who live in Frederick and were a huge part of my life growing up. While I was raised in Ellicott City, I spent many holidays and occassions in Frederick surrounded by family. These gatherings, always full of laughter and joy, became some of my most meaningful memories. Aside from these gatherings, my grandparents were always huge supporters of my life. They came to every concert, every sports game, and every big moment in my life. They especially supported my pursuit of music, helping me purchase instruments and supplies I needed and cheering me on at every concert.
My grandfather passed away on June 27, 2023. Not seeing him at the family gatherings or in the audience has been a constant reminder of that loss. I had always known I wanted to write a piece to honor him and my family, and I decided writing a jazz ensemble piece would best do that. My grandparents always loved jazz and those concerts were their favorites to attend, so writing a jazz piece seemed best. The piece opens with a short, reflective wind chorale as a short elegy to my grandfather. After, it shifts to a medium swing waltz that is more upbeat. This piece is not meant to be sad, it is meant to be a celebration of the experiences that I had with my family, and the love I have for both my grandfather and my grandmother for helping me become who I am today.
FREDERICK, MD was commissioned by Mark Williams and premiered by the University of Maryland Jazz Ensemble in 2025.
INSTRUMENTATION:
Alto Saxophone I/II (Flute)
Tenor Saxophone I/II (Clarinet)
Baritone Saxophone (Bass Clarinet)
Trumpet/Flugelhorn 1-4
Trombone 1-4
Electric Guitar
Piano
Acoustic Bass
Drum Set
SOLOS: Piano | Trumpet II | Alto Saxophone I
Featured Works
WAVES is a two movement saxophone quartet inspired by two beaches I have visited.
The first movement is based on Myrtle Beach, SC in March. During this time, the temperature is colder, clouds cover the sky, and the overall color of the beach is grey. The first movement is meant to depict the stark atmosphere of the beach during this time. It focuses on the sounds of the waves and the imagery of the beach.
The second movement is based on Morningstar Beach in St. Thomas. The opening section is meant to illustrate the start of a wave as it builds to eventually crash on the sand. The piece after this is representative of me being in the water, surrounded by a constant flow of water as it pushes and pulls with each wave that crashes and is pulled back into the sea.
INSTRUMENTATION:
Bb Soprano Saxophone
Eb Alto Saxophone
Bb Tenor Saxophone (has altissimo notes)
Eb Baritone Saxophone
Dream Atlas was commissioned by the University of Kentucky Percussion Studio.
I began to write Dream Atlas in the beginning of 2022 as sketches for Full Orchestra, inspired by a series of reoccurring dreams I had following the passing of my father in 2014. In the dreams, I would see vivid galaxies that brought extreme, yet confusing emotions to me, hence why I named each movement after “space-related environments. Later in life I would find out these dreams were “Nocturnal Panic Attacks.”
In the latter half of 2022, I began to adapt the themes I had developed into a Percussion Orchestra setting. I wanted the entire work to follow both the developing character narrative as well as the metaphoric development of a Nebula.
I: A Sea of Stars is the first movement and the exposition of the piece. The movement jumps from motif to motif at a rapid pace as we explore being lost in the stars.
II: Approaching Nova is the second moment, offering a temporary contrast to the first and third. This moment is much more open and legato with a dramatic twist of energy and texture as it develops.
III: Breaking Nebula is the final movement to the piece, traveling through all the motifs I had used in the previous two movements. I wanted to depict an overwhelming joy and appreciation for life and the moments we have together on Earth. While the comfort of our dreams seems to be a compelling distraction from reality, I have yet to find anything more beautiful than the people who I share my waking moments with.
WATERFRONT SKETCHES is a four-movement work inspired by moments and scenes from my many visits to my uncle’s lake house at Lake Anna, Virginia.
Movement I: Drive captures the feeling of the drive from Maryland, which usually takes around three hours. On the way, my family and I listen to lots of classic '80s music. I wanted this movement to reflect both that sound and the hypnotic, trance-like feeling of watching the scenery blur by on the highway. The harmony loosely borrows from “The Boys of Summer” by Don Henley, woven into a minimalist style.
Movement II: Still portrays the lake at night, completely still and silent. It’s a programmatic movement depicting different moments of this calm. It begins at dawn, with light fog or steam rising off the water. As the music progresses, the sun rises, and my family slowly wakes and stirs. The piece ends in a swirl of sixteenth notes, symbolizing the morning coming alive—the sun shining and the water beginning to ripple with movement and boats.
Movement III: Sunbeams evokes the peaceful vibe of sitting by the boathouse, simply enjoying the sun dancing across the rippling water. Echo effects mimic the way sunlight reflects and refracts on the surface, adding a chill, laid-back atmosphere to the music.
Movement IV: Ride is a tribute to the many boat rides I’ve taken over the years—the rush of the water, the wind in my face, the smell of the lake. The middle section slows down with a warm, flowing melody, capturing the feeling of anchoring near the trees to swim and relax. The movement closes triumphantly, as we return to the boat and ride off once more, wind in our hair.
INSTRUMENTATION:
Bb Soprano Saxophone
Eb Alto Saxophone (contains altissimo)
Bb Tenor Saxophone (contains altissimo)
Eb Baritone Saxophone
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Colin Eng is a Saxophonist, Composer & Educator from Ellicott City, MD.
James Beckner is a percussionist, Composer & Educator for Lexington, KY.