Words from Thomas Osborne

What inspires you to compose?

Plenty.  There's so much around us all that can be a source of inspiration, from the music blaring from a passing car to the strumming of some never-before-heard instrument.  Each day we find ourselves surrounded by an eclectic variety of sound, and I try to make sense of those sounds in my music.

Are there specific composers who influence you?

I've always felt a strong pull from European and American composers like Stravinsky, Ives and Reich.  Lately, though, I've found myself writing pieces inspired by folk and traditional music from the other side of the globe.  Music from Japan, Korea and Indonesia have all provided the sparks for recent works.

What inspired you in the composition of this piece, Smoke, Steel,

Stone, Cinder?

The piece was written for David Stock and the Duquesne University Contemporary Ensemble.  Since Duquesne is located in Pittsburgh, I took inspiration from the myriad industrial images I came across while visiting.  At this time in my life, many of my pieces were based on the elements.  I'd written pieces about water, ice and fire.  This piece continued in that vein, and was inspired by the elements of industry.

I wrote this piece in 2005, when I was living in Los Angeles and studying at USC.  I moved to Hawaii a year later.

Do you have other thoughts you would like to share with the audience

prior to the performance?

I'd only like to add that it's wonderful to have Orkestra Projekt performing this piece, having heard so many great things about the group.  I haven't lived in Indiana for some time now, but it's fantastic to hear that there is now a group in Indy dedicated to the performance of contemporary music.  The city is fortunate to have a group like this, and I'm excited to be coming back to work with José and the ensemble.