Ben Morris

Beta Drift

Beta Drift refers to the northwesterly direction of hurricanes; each hurricane has a predicted path, but can deviate to the east or west of that predicted direction. Beta Drift, a six-year collaboration that aims to combine contemporary classical techniques with jazz improvisation, similarly deviates from a typical path; it is the child of funky electronica, complex formal structures, lush harmony and contemporary virtuosity. Alongside the fast-paced, energetic, interactive music, the piece features a hazy, ambient middle section with plenty of room for free improvisation by the trumpeter. This composition was originally written for trumpet and brass ensemble for Derek Ganong and the Fredericksburg Brass Institute in the summer of 2017 and was revised and arranged for fixed media for trumpet in 2018.