Leap Day
Leap Day is a fantasia for band dedicated to that odd date on our calendars, February 29. Coming only once every four years (with the occasional exception), the leap day on our calendar offers an interesting occasion to pause and consider how much our lives and the world have changed in the last four years.
The piece centers on an energetic, leaping fanfare. The representation of the titular leap day, this fanfare returns several times throughout the piece. Between these are episodes which illustrate the frequent ups and downs of modern life. The heart and soul of the piece are in its rhythms, which use mixed meters and an unrelenting 8th note pulse to create a dynamic view of the passage of time.
The piece received its world premiere in London, performed by the Central Band of the Royal Air Force in March 2022, under the direction Wing Commander Piers Morrell OBE, Principal Director of Music for the Royal Air Force.