As an avid gardener, I have always wanted to write a piece that reminded me of my garden.  Whether I am pruning or planting or pulling weeds, gardening is a meditative experience for me.  I love the quiet, the solitude, the time to think, and sometimes the opportunity to work out a compositional idea.  I enjoy the beauty of the flowers and strolling around the yard to see which plants are blooming on a particular day.  The garden is constantly changing through the days, through the seasons, through the years.  This piece is not necessarily about my particular garden or a specific idea, it is about whatever story the listener hears in the piece.

My Secret Garden is written in two sections. The first section in 3/4 time in C Major, is an unhurried stroll through a garden where one can be alone with their thoughts.  Taking time to smell the flowers, sit on a bench under a tree for a while and just think.  The second section in 6/8 time in G Major is more energetic as the beauty of the garden inspires happy thoughts. 

Instrumentation:

• Piccolo
• 3 C Flutes
• Alto Flute (or Flute 4)
• Bass Flute
• Contrabass Flute (or Bass Flute 2)