Red Right Returning

for double-bell euphonium and handbell trio

The title of the piece comes from a sailing idiom used on the Great Lakes which reminds the captain how to approach harbor, that the red buoys are on the right when returning from sea. Red Right Returning flows and floats exploring the vast openness of Lake Michigan. I was inspired by bell buoys which are used frequently on the Great Lakes. These are buoys that strike a bell when tilted by the waves, which can be useful when navigating in dense fog. The piece plays out in several “scenes,” with each performer having to navigate a chart of musical gestures like how a sailor must navigate with a nautical chart. In this way, no two performances are the same, and the players have a very active role in making the music.

This piece uses two instruments that are uncommon, especially in concert works. The double-bell euphonium is like the traditional euphonium, but has an additional bell that is smaller and a different shape creating a more directional and bright sound. Handbells are often used in churches, but are a very unique instrument. Each performer typically only has two to four bells and must follow along their part creating melodies across several people. In Red Right Returning, the handbell parts are all the same but with different bells, and with the different decisions the players must make, the bells create a very unique texture that makes the handbells shine.

This piece is dedicated to my partner James, who loves lighthouses, the Great Lakes, sailing, handbells, and double-bell euphonium.