Georgia On My Mind and Stardust, both by Hoagy Carmichael, are two of the most beloved tunes any American has ever produced. They have been recorded by too many artists to mention, but the former is probably best known in the version by Ray Charles and the latter is probably best-loved in the version by Nat King Cole. I arranged these both as vehicles to feature trumpet/cornet players in the River City Brass Band; both were arranged as trumpet ensemble soli (more than one soloist) pieces - Stardust for four players and Georgia for five.

Georgia On My Mind is an up-tempo tune, and plays really well as a finale. I have always liked this song up-tempo, maybe just for the variety, as everyone has heard it so often as a ballad. Though the Georgia arrangement has had a lot more performances, I feel Stardust is more noteworthy for its word painting. I wanted to portray a sultry summer evening where two young lovers meet "beside a garden wall," and when there "love was new, and each kiss an inspiration." I shamelessly quoted Béla Bartók's Concerto for Orchestra at the beginning and as interlude material, and throughout I made an effort to choose harmonies and orchestrations which might portray an oppressively humid summer evening.

• Stardust and Georgia On My Mind are not published.

• Hear a short sample of Georgia On My Mind by the River City Brass Band, Denis Colwell, Music Director, from the compact disc recording All American*.

• Hear a short sample of Stardust by the River City Brass Band, Denis Colwell, Music Director, from the compact disc recording All American*.