Precious Purple Plums takes its inspiration from a single striking image in William Carlos Williams’ poem This Is Just to Say: I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox. The contrast of a sweet, richly colored fruit resting in a cold, gleaming icebox was enough to spark an entire piece. My goal was to create music that is short and sweet, like the fruit itself, using lush harmonies to capture the plum’s richness, long lyrical lines to mirror its sweetness, and sparkling mallet percussion to reflect the chill and shimmer of the icebox.

The piece was commissioned by the CMEA Northern Section Junior High Honor Band under the direction of Ryan Heimlich. This commission was especially meaningful to me, as this very ensemble was the first honor band I ever performed with. That experience opened the door to future honor groups and festivals, ultimately guiding me toward a career in music. To return now as a composer, writing for the same ensemble that once inspired me, feels surreal and deeply rewarding. In this piece, I aimed to weave in some of the musical qualities I loved as a young performer, hoping to give today’s students the same spark of inspiration that first set me on my path.