American Vignettes was composed during 2011 for the Lyric Brass of Pacific Lutheran University. They were looking for a composition to include on a CD of American music and one that would feature each of the musicians. The first movement, ?Barn Dance?, features the first trumpet and after a syncopated, fanfare-style introduction, the movement uses fragments and elaborations of "Old Chisholm Trail" and "Short?nin Bread". For the second movement, I wanted to write a blues and feature the other trumpet player on Flugelhorn. As I was working on the movement, the blues seem very mysterious and lonely, so I titled the movement 4 A.M. Blues. It reflects someone who can?t sleep and is contemplating the deep mysteries of life and feels very alone in the world. Movement 3 is the tuba feature and is called "Spirituals". I use three different spirituals in this movement, "Nobody Knows the Trouble I?ve Seen". "Cotton Needs Picking" and "Every Time I Feel the Spirit." Movement 4 ?Fiesta? is a trombone feature and represents the Southwest. The Southwestern flavor is accomplished through alternating 6/8 and 3/4 and the bright colors of the muted brass playing staccato eighth note rhythms and "ay" sounding motifs. The Horn is featured in the fifth movement ?From Sea to Shining Sea? that starts with a jazz harmony version of ?America the Beautiful? followed by a jazz waltz built from motifs of the song. The last movement is called ?Harlem Jump? and is an up-tempo jive with Be-bop type solos written for each of the musicians. ?

Four Directional Fanfares for Brass Quintet and optional tympani) was arranged and compiled in 2020 expressly for the Spanish Brass. Each fanfare is named after the four directions of the compass with each having a different duration. I. North (70 seconds), II. South (50 seconds), III. East (20 seconds) and IV. West (2 Minuets and 30 seconds).

An optional timpani part has been added in the score and may be used to enhance the sound in ceremonial situations.

The composer has played and conducted in many brass ensembles over the years as well as composing many fanfares of different lengths to suit the occasion. A brass ensemble can always use new fanfares. These fanfares were recorded by the Spanish Brass in 2020 on the CD ?Music for Brass Quintet by Gregory Fritze? on the Spanish Brass label. These fanfares are also on YouTube and Soundcloud.