"Flying Jewels" is a symphonic poem for wind ensemble that attempts to capture the joyous and hopeful spirit of a famous essay by the late author Brian Doyle. The title refers to how Europeans described hummingbirds when first encountering them in North America. Doyle’s essay muses on how intensely and passionately these tiny birds live their lives, with their hearts beating “ten times a second.” He also considers the blue whale’s giant heart, which beats as little as eight times a minute and can be heard from miles away.
Ultimately, the essay asserts the connection that all people and creatures share; we all have one heart that carries us through life’s struggles, victories, and simple pleasures. My composition deals with the themes of Doyle’s essay by depicting the heart rhythms of different creatures through various metric/tempo modulations and relationships. First is the hummingbird, flitting about with bright flourishes from woodwinds and metallic percussion at superhuman speeds. A reptile’s three-chambered heart is heart next with nods to the triple-meter dances of the Caribbean. At the center of the work is the human heart, which is a simple tune that slowly builds to a cadence at the heart rate of a blue whale; four giant chords that resound under the ocean depths. Finally, the work recapitulates each idea while gaining speed to combine all of the tempi in an exuberant and ecstatic finale. This work was commissioned by The United States Air Force Band, Col. Don Schofield, commander and conductor.
- James David
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Credits:
Commander & Conductor, Executive Producer
Colonel Don Schofield
Producer
Mr. Dennis Fisher
Associate Producer
Captain Christina Muncey
Recording Engineers
Technical Sgt. Jim Woolf
Technical Sgt. Pedro Rodríguez-Ramírez
Editing Engineer
Technical Sgt. Jim Woolf
Mixing Engineer
Technical Sgt. Pedro Rodríguez-Ramirez
Mastering Engineer
Mr. Bruce Leek
Mr. Mike Monseur
Lighting
Justin Lang Design
Videographers
Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Hoffmann
Senior Master Sgt. Chad Randolph
Senior Master Sgt. Emily Wellington
Master Sgt. Kevin Cerovich
Master Sgt. Tim Hilgert
Master Sgt. Brooke Emery
Master Sgt. Mike Brest
Technical Sgt. Carolyn Braus
Technical Sgt. Joey Velez
Technical Sgt. Stacey Holliday
Mr. George Bolden - Jib Operator
Video Editor
Master Sgt. Tim Hilgert

Chief of Production - Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Hoffmann
Chief of Marketing and Outreach - Chief Master Sgt. Kevin Burns
Chief of Concert Band - Chief Master Sgt. Stacy Newbrough Ascione
Chief of Ceremonial Brass - Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Valadie
Chief of Air Force Strings - Chief Master Sgt. Henry Tyszler
Chief of Airmen of Note - Chief Master Sgt. Brian MacDonald
Section Chief of Audio/Video Production - Senior Master Sgt. Emily Wellington
Section Chief of Brand Management - Master Sgt. Brooke Emery
Music Librarian - Master Sgt. Matt Dannan
Program Notes - Master Sgt. Laura Shoun