Street Lamps & Silhouettes is a nocturne for wind ensemble, but rather than evoking the traditional sense of night, it explores the distinct world of film noir.

In recent works, I have been drawn to composing from a place of emotion and mood, allowing me to fully immerse in the creative process. This approach inspired Street Lamps & Silhouettes, where the melodramatic storytelling and striking imagery of film noir; sparsely lit streets, shadowy figures, and smoky atmospheres, are brought to life through flashes of brilliant textures, echoing ostinatos, and constantly shifting timbres. The genre’s tension and intrigue are captured in clashing musical sections and a persistent forward momentum, reflecting the suspenseful narrative at the heart of noir.

This piece was written for my alma mater, San José State University, and for my former director, Dr. David Vickerman. Their support has been invaluable to my development as a composer, making this work especially meaningful to me.