Hope and optimism: a performer's guide and analysis of James M. David's Swing landscape: rhapsody for piano and wind orchestra

James M. David’s Swing Landscape represents a unique niche in the wind band repertoire. Composed as a single-movement piano concerto with orchestral winds and percussion, it exemplifies the composer’s metamodernist philosophy. David, an award-winning American composer with an internationally acclaimed reputation, earned the National Band Association’s William D. Revelli award and Merrill Jones award. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers also recognized him with their Morton Gould award. David has composed on commission for prestigious ensembles such as The United States Air Force Band. His compositions are published on twenty-three albums, including by such artists as Joe Alessi (New York Philharmonic) and Bruce Yeh (Chicago Symphony Orchestra).

Swing Landscape was commissioned by the Iowa Bandmasters Association and premiered at its professional conference on May 10, 2018, in Des Moines, Iowa, by the Des Moines Symphony winds and percussion, conducted by Dr. Rebecca Phillips, featuring Dr. Karl Paulnack on piano. It is inspired by two Stuart Davis paintings, Swing Landscape and Hot Still- Scape for Six Colors–7th Avenue Style. It has historical ties to George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue and Igor Stravinsky’s Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments. It synthesizes numerous styles of twentieth century music including minimalism, stride piano, post-bop, primitivism, modal jazz, and spectralism. This thesis presents a performer’s guide and analysis of Swing Landscape: Rhapsody for Piano and Wind Orchestra, infused with David’s insights, and situates the composition in the context of his metamodernist philosophy, to provide conductors and performers deeper understanding of its performance.