Soundtrax II, composed in 2024 and early 2025 for the Atlanta Freedom Bands, is a continuation of my 2018 work, Soundtrax, commissioned and premiered by AFB at the time for their “Let the Games Begin” concert. Soundtrax II is subtitled, “Revisited"..."The Sequel"..."Take Two"..."Continued"... as a play on video game, movie, tv show, etc. titles. From the original program notes: “Soundtrax is a piece inspired by the soundtracks of movies, video games, and other media, taking influence from many of the great soundtrack composers…”. Similarly, Soundtrax II has different sections, themes, moods, and scenery, sometimes changing suddenly and abruptly, as it might during a soundtrack to a movie or video game. There is a common theme I used throughout Soundtrax II, sometimes hidden and sometimes obvious, based on the melodic intervals of one of the melodies I repeated in Soundtrax (I). In that way, it acts kind of like a leitmotif, connecting both “versions.”

From the original to II, not only has my writing style changed and evolved the more I’ve learned and absorbed in my musical career, but I’ve also added an organ part now. It plays mostly a supplemental role, but definitely has its moments to shine! The orchestration and use of the organ is inspired mostly by David Maslanka’s 4th symphony, with a little salute to Saint-Saën’s Organ Symphony at the end. I’ve also included a marching snare drum, which was inspired by its use in Adam Schoenberg’s Symphony No. 2 “Migration”. It’s not typically found in “indoor band”, but I think it brings a lot of energy to the piece!