Eastbound

Eastbound was commissioned by the Siena Wind Orchestra of Tokyo and may be heard as a sort of urban exploration. It begins with a massive chordal progression verging into a compact, groove-driven exposition of a relatively basic motif, going on to become increasingly virtuosic and hectic, reflecting the ever-present hustle and bustle in the streets of a megalopolis. The subsequent slower section brings about an Edenic atmosphere. Some soloists are featured with expressive lines, building up towards a short climax with a blues flavour, leading back to the fast music of the beginning. The heavily scored chords of the beginning reappear only towards the ending of the piece, like pillars of the musical bridge spanning the entire piece. Another acceleration finally leads to a turbulent close.