• 2 Flutes, Oboe, Bassoon, 3 Bb Clarinets, Bass Clarinet, 2 Alto Saxophones, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone
• 2 Bb Trumpets, Horn in F, 2 Trombones, Euphonium (C or Bb), Tuba
• 4-6 Percussion:
  • Timpani
  • Glockenspiel
  • Vibraphone
  • Marimba 1*
  • Marimba 2*
  • Bass Drum, suspended cymbal, triangle
  • *These marimba parts are optional, and they can share the same marimba (4.3 octave).

I recently began teaching at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and I’ve been struck by the natural beauty of the city’s surroundings, which are often overshadowed by the Strip. About an hour outside of Vegas is the Valley of Fire, a state park with magnificent cliffs and bright red sandstone structures. It’s a humbling sight, and there are even petroglyphs on the rocks dating back 2,000 years! And what’s even more fascinating is that the whole area was once underwater. It’s hard to believe that this area in the middle of the Mojave Desert—the driest region in America—used to be an inland ocean. Over hundreds of millions of years, the sea subsided as the land rose, resulting in the spectacular sight we see there today. Inland Ocean is inspired by this imagery, and I strove to musically capture the swirling of water, wind, and sand that patiently formed this region.

Inland Ocean was commissioned by the Beyond The Notes Music Festival, Inc., Chris Gleason, President. Many thanks to the Chequamegon Middle School Band from Glidden, Wisconsin and their teacher Kristen Kirch for the world premiere performance on May 10, 2023.