Meditation on Four Freedoms

“This is a composition based on the FDR speech ‘The Four Freedoms,’ and while I opted to cover all four freedoms mentioned in the speech, I would say this piece most closely represents the freedom from want. I chose to write for mallets, piano, and brass because I think this ensemble’s timbral portfolio feels very open, airy, and warm. Embracing the universe in its entirety without asking anything of it—to lack desire–takes courage and brings peace, and I believe this composition embodies that.”

A talented multi-instrumentalist and composer from Roseville, CA, Jackson Irvine seeks to inspire and captivate the world with his music. He has won 8 Student DownBeat awards to date, including Best Large Ensemble Jazz Composition and Best Jazz Arrangement, as well as Best Arrangement at the Charles Mingus Jazz Festival in 2020. Irvine’s musical compositions and arrangements have travelled the United States and Ireland, having been performed by himself and others at the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival, Swing Central Jazz Festival, Charles Mingus Jazz Festival, and others. He has also scored music for film, having worked on an upcoming short film produced by 4085 Productions. He currently performs and writes for the Thornton Jazz Orchestra at USC.

You can follow Jackson on Instagram here.