"American Trilogy" was premiered in Los Angeles in 1983, and the East Coast premier was a year later in New York City by the Pandean
Players in conjunction with a "Meet the Composer" grant. The movements reflect three general areas of the United States in which I have lived during my adult life. "Sunset
Strip" is flashy, energetic, and gregarious — pure Hollywood; "Friday Harbor" is a warm and pensive movement, bringing to mind the beautiful Puget Sound; "Ellis
Island" is an ethnic dance, conjuring up visions of colorful swirling skirts. And whether or not one’s ancestors actually came through that famous immigration center, this movement
represents that little bit of "Ellis Island" in all of us.
Many woodwind quintets across the U.S. now have "American Trilogy" in their repertoires, and in 1991 the Quintet of the Americas (NYC) made a spectacular recording of "Ellis
Island," which you can hear above. To order complete scores and parts (flute, oboe, clarinet, french horn, bassoon), send US$43.00 ($35.00 + $8.00 materials/shipping) to:
