English Roses
Inspired by Queen Mary's Rose Garden
About the Piece
Preformed by The Illinois State University Wind Symphony
English Roses seeks to embody the intoxicating yet fragile beauty of a rose. The idea for this piece was formed after a visit to Queen Mary's rose garden in Regent's Park. This garden alone is home to over 12,000 individual rose plants with 85 different verities on display. This grand display of wealth and opulence can at times be overwhelming with beauty everywhere you turn your head. Being there was an incredible privilege, not only were the flowers beautiful, their aroma make the very air part if the experience. From citrus to fresh linen, to subtle perfume the garden nourished both the visual and olfactory senses sometimes to the point of excess. This piece seeks to capture all of that from the overwhelming to the intimate with an overarching theme of absolute beauty. Please enjoy the beginning of my latest work which marks my first original full wind ensemble piece.