With spiraling melodic passages and unique color combinations between instruments, Aequilibrium for percussion ensemble is sure to entrance audiences and performers alike.

Aequilibrium was premiered by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Percussion Ensemble, Directed by Dr. Joe W. Moore III, at TMEA on February 14, 2015.

Duration: 5:00

Difficulty Level: Medium

Players: 5

Combining classical elements with non-traditional harmony and modes, Mat Campbell's three-movement Sonatina is a great addition to any percussion ensemble concert.

Sonatina was premiered by the University of Texas Brownsville Contemporary Percussion Ensemble on April 14, 2014.

Duration: 8:00

Difficulty Level: Medium

Players: 12

Dreamweaver isn’t your typical “pre-determined” grade 1. It offers an aleatoric section that uses cues from the conductor. Each student can make their own musical decisions with given musical ideas, much like weaving their dreams. After all the textures are presented, the trumpets take over with an augmented version of the main theme to represent an expanded quilt.

Duration: 3:30

Incognito puts the listener in the room where it happens. Perhaps it’s a transaction that the public shouldn’t know about. Maybe it’s adding a rider to a bill that the public will never read. Maybe it’s the genesis of what will eventually become a conspiracy. These aforementioned ideas give this piece its worth - a sneaky and down-low unfolding of the unknown. At first, the theme is quiet and suspenseful. It brings the listener in to listen to the whispers around the room. The interlude brings many voices out of the texture, and they’re all trying to say different things to throw us off the trial. At last the truth comes out in full force, in all of its bold yet devious nature. The piece closes with a coda of everyone asking the same question:

Is it what we really want to hear, or is there still something else?

Incognito was premiered by the Bowling Green State University Middle School Honor Band (OH), under the direction of Dr. Allison Davis, on May 6, 2024.

Duration: 2:10

Recorded by the California State University Long Beach Wind Ensemble

This piece uses a very simple theme throughout to celebrate a king or queen. The consistent rhythms of the theme and its variations symbolize the everlasting reign of royal profiles throughout history. This procession opens with a simple melody played by the full ensemble. This theme is repeated throughout the piece in smaller sections to signify the subjects of the kingdom giving praise to the monarch.

Duration: 1:20

Rite of Passage is a piece for sixth graders to show their directors, peers, and parents that they learned how to become a new band. This rite of passage declares to everyone that these students are ready move onto bigger and better things such as seventh grade band and beyond.

Duration: 1:50

The Road Less Traveled is an allegorical work that depicts hiking to a mountain summit while also calling for musicians and audiences to pursue their own individual summit(s).

The Road Less Traveled was premiered by The Leander High School Symphonic Band (TX), under the direction of Michael Swiren, on May 23, 2022.

Duration: 4:30

Recorded by the University of Louisville Wind Ensemble

Sentinel juxtaposes the celebratory fanfare commonly found in patriotic music. The intense music tells a story of unwavering focus and forward motion, all while paying tribute to these Unknown Soldiers and their forthcoming Sentinels today and into the future.

The instrumentation is widely flexible from a quartet of drums to a full percussion ensemble and beyond to a full concert band. This is not only to provide flexibility to a wide variety of performing ensembles, but it also represents the ever-expanding body of different services, roles, and individuals in the various branches of the military. This piece further pays homage to service bands and musicians across the country.

Duration: 2:15

A fantastic closer to any concert program, A Thousand Inner Voices is sure to challenge musicians and audiences with learning to live with the voices in our heads. This piece was created in collaboration with Dr. Kaitlin Bove and the …And We Were Heard organization for their 2022 Fundraiser Consortium.

A Thousand Inner Voices was premiered by the East Chapel Hill Band (NC), Directed by Ryan Ellefsen, on October 20, 2022.

$15 of each purchase on Mat Campbell Music will go towards a yearly donation to …And We Were Heard.

Duration: 4:30

As humans, want to believe that everything is forever: Friends, family, love. Losing any of these things can leave us feeling lost or down. Trying to work through a time like this can be disheartening, but there is always hope. Until We Meet Again reminds the listener that losing someone or something is a part of life. It’s inevitable to find ourselves in a low place due to missing a time of happiness and joy. However, the memories we make can help us relive these times and maybe even return to the person or place we miss to feel joyful once more.

Duration: 5:20

As the World Waits is a response to 2020 that serves as a call to action to help one another overcome adversity in the darkest of times. Through developing a single motif from beginning to end, this piece will make performers and audiences alike experience patience, frustration, hope, and resolution.

As the World Waits was premiered by The Leander High School Wind Ensemble (TX), under the direction of Robert Selaiden, at The Midwest Clinic on December 16, 2021.

NOTE: This piece was premiered under the original title The Wait of the World.

Duration: 5:00

World premiere recording

Combining a twisted original lullaby, a thrilling soundscape, and an indescribable entity, Nightmare Fuel takes audiences through a sonic psychological thriller. Through use of an optional click track, this recurring nightmare will surely bring a cinematic highlight to concert programs.

Nightmare Fuel was premiered by the Simley High School Wind Ensemble (MN), directed by Kevin Robinson, on June 2, 2023 with the composer conducting.

Duration: 5:10

Recorded by the California State University - Long Beach Wind Ensemble

Nightmare Fuel was included on the Bandworld Top 100 list for 2023.

Centerpiece captures the bittersweet feeling of reminiscing about cherished memories, evoking a deep sense of nostalgia, while simultaneously carrying the poignant regret of knowing that you may never be able to return to those moments exactly as you remember them.

Centerpiece will be premiered by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Wind Orchestra, Directed by Dr. Jerianne Larson, on November 6, 2024 with the dedicatee, Dr. Allison Davis, conducting.

Duration: 4:45

From a Higher Place presents itself as a musical journey taking the listener through the five stages of grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, Acceptance. The piece ends with a final statement that gives a resonant feeling of happiness and accord.

From a Higher Place was premiered by the University of Texas at Brownsville Wind Symphony, Directed by Dr. Albert Lo, on November 9, 2014 with the composer conducting.

Duration: 4:30

Recorded by the Trade Winds Recording Ensemble

Commissioned by Dr. Jonathan Helmick and the Slippery Rock University Symphonic Wind Ensemble along with a consortium of nearly 20 ensembles, Forerunner is about going against the grain, breaking free from the past, and embarking on your journey to become the predecessor to your descendants, whether in a familial sense, an educational one, or as an overall contribution to a community.

Forerunner was premiered by the Slippery Rock University Wind Ensemble, Directed by Dr. Jonathan Helmick, on November 30, 2023 with the composer conducting.

Duration: 10:00

Moonshot takes the listener on a journey from lift-off to the celebration that honored the astronauts that first stepped foot on our nearest natural celestial neighbor. The piece commemorates the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 Lunar Landing. After composing the Woodwind Quartet version and having the premiere on August 11, 2019, I felt it was best to make a band version of it as well.

Moonshot was premiered by the Oklahoma Youth Winds, Directed by Dr. Matthew Mailman, on February 9, 2020.

Duration: 5:00

World premiere recording

out on a limb depicts an imaginary off-brand Scrat from the Ice Age movie franchise in his journey of getting that one last acorn to survive the upcoming ice age.

The chamber winds version of out on a limb was commissioned by the High Point Collective, and received its world premiere by the High Point University Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Brian Meixner, on April 26, 2023.

Duration: 6:00

A fantastic closer to any concert program, A Thousand Inner Voices is sure to challenge musicians and audiences with learning to live with the voices in our heads. This piece was created in collaboration with Dr. Kaitlin Bove and the …And We Were Heard organization for their 2022 Fundraiser Consortium.

A Thousand Inner Voices was premiered by the East Chapel Hill Band, Directed by Ryan Ellefsen, on October 20, 2022.

Royalties made from C. Alan Publications sales will go towards a yearly donation to …And We Were Heard.

Duration: 5:30

Recorded by the South Sound Symphonic Band

A Thousand Inner Voices (4.5) was included on the Bandworld Top 100 list for 2023.

Loosely depicting the composer's take on an out-of-body experience, this advanced work fully exploits the many colors a wind ensemble can produce and takes listeners on an incredible journey "into the void."

The band version of INTO the VOID was premiered by the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Wind Symphony, directed by Dr. Albert Lo, on April 4, 2016 with the composer conducting.

The Chorus + Percussion Version of INTO the VOID is the first prize winner in the 2015 Percussive Arts Society Composition Contest

Duration: 10:00

World premiere recording

neveroddoreven is the combination of the golden ratio, polyrhythmic relationships, and octatonic scales. If that isn’t enough, listen to it with a conductor and you feel one tempo. Listen to it without a conductor, and you feel another tempo. Oh, and it’s exactly the same forward and backward.

neveroddoreven was premiered by the Oklahoma City University Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Matthew Mailman, on November 11, 2021 with the composer conducting.

Duration: 8:00

World premiere recording

Supercollider (formerly known as Clusterflux) is a fantastic addition to any program as an opener or closer. High-energy rhythms depict a bed of thick and ever-evolving texture. The clear melodies and countermelodies (for instance in the trumpets and horns at the beginning) represent the collisions of subatomic particles. With all of these various collisions happening all at once, it may be a bit overwhelming. You need not worry. This science experiment is over in the blink of an eye.

Supercollider was premiered by the Oklahoma City University Wind Ensemble, directed by Dr. Matthew Mailman, on September 14, 2023.

Duration: 2:10

World premiere recording

Learn About the Making of Supercollider

Carol of the Bells is a standard Christmas traditional work with non-traditional treatment. It was arranged by Marcus Grant (winds) and myself (percussion).

Duration: 2:00

Gustav Holst’s Second Suite in F, II. Song Without Words, is one of my favorite pieces of music. When writing percussion for this, I focused on fluidity and phrasing throughout the front ensemble feature to provide forward motion into the climax of the movement. It was arranged by Marcus Grant (winds) and myself (percussion).

Duration: 2:35

Out of all of Holst’s works, the innermost section of Jupiter is a personal favorite of mine. It is simple but not boring - honorable but not pompous. Holst’s instrumental setting of I Vow to Thee, My Country, is perhaps one of my favorite pieces of music.

Duration: 1:30

Wake Up came out of a collaboration between educator Sal Hernandez (winds) and myself (percussion) in a group of composers that enjoyed arranging or composing marching music. This singular movement could serve as an opener for any marching show.

Duration: 2:30

James Bond has captivated the hearts of millions around the globe since 1962’s inaugural film, Dr. No. Since then, the Bond franchise has released a plethora of productions. The original music for Dr. No, which was composed by Monty Norman and later built upon in movies such as From Russia with Love by composer John Barry, has transcended its iconic status from pop culture to film aficionados worldwide.

This show was arranged with permission for the 2017 Weslaco High School Marching Band (TX) for their UIL Marching Contest.

Percussion and Sound Design - Mat Campbell

Duration: 7:45

All non-public domain selections must be secured before purchase of show materials.

Combining selections by classical composers and popular music, Being Alive gives life to the UTRGV Marching Band for the first time.

This show was arranged with permission for the Inaugural 2023 University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Marching Band for their Exhibition Performance Season.

Winds - Steve Vento
Percussion and Sound Design - Mat Campbell

Duration: 9:15

All non-public domain selections must be secured before purchase of show materials.

The enigma of Edward Elgar’s Enigma Variations is still unsolved according to today’s musicologists and historians. Solving the enigma is a fantastic theme for a marching band show. There is opportunity for characters to be featured in the color guard or in the marching band proper to tell a story of a man and his secrets - none of which are to be told.

Winds - Chris Leiper
Ballad Percussion - Jesse Stevens
Percussion (for rest of show) - Mat Campbell

Duration:
Pre-Show: 1:15 & Competition Portion: 7:40

All non-public domain selections must be secured before purchase of show materials.

DNA is a show about diversity. Humanity’s diversity might be based on the color of our skin, the amount of money in our wallets, or the way we speak. This show celebrates the idea that these three letters define us to be diverse members of the human race.

Duration: 6:00

Difficulty: Easy

I have always been obsessed with the concept of black holes. Naturally, I decided to write a show about traveling into one. Event Horizon takes the audience light years away to approach a black hole and see what really happens. Are we transported to another point of our universe or do we go back in time? Nobody knows. This show explores the physical and conceptual nature of passing through the event horizon.

Duration: 4:50

Difficulty: Medium

Futuroso takes the audience to the time of flying cars, faster-than-light travel, and hydrated pizzas (thanks, Back to the Future). Performers will play virtuosically-inspired music whether in a sectional or tutti moment. Futuroso will be sure to transport the audience to the future back to the present in only under six minutes.

Duration: 6:00

Difficulty: Advanced

On the Shoulders of Giants is a musical representation and journey to the Pillars of Creation. Though the pillars no longer exist, they have served as a brilliant and inspiring sight to amateur astronomers and astrophysicists alike. The piece is arranged in two versions for optimal growth from the students: one grade 2 version of the show along with a grade 3 version. The idea of scaffolding abilities means that each movement becomes progressively more difficult.

Duration: 6:10

Difficulty: Medium

The first volume of this anthology will surely get the crowd going with its collection of grooves and breakdowns. Cadences in this anthology are perfect for parades, athletic events, and lot jams.

This purchase includes a digital copy of the book and MP3 files of each cadence.

View Composer Notes

The second volume of this anthology will surely get the crowd going with its collection of grooves and breakdowns. Cadences in this anthology are perfect for parades, athletic events, and lot jams.

This purchase includes a digital copy of the book and MP3 files of each cadence.

View Composer Notes

The first two volumes of this anthology will surely get the crowd going with its collection of grooves and breakdowns. Cadences in this anthology are perfect for parades, athletic events, and lot jams.

This purchase includes a digital copy of the book and MP3 files of each cadence.

View Composer Notes