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A lot of Rare Metals was written during my residency at the Aaron Copland House. In particular Safeway, which was written as a response to the political violence in Tucson, Arizona which occurred the day I began my residency. Copland himself was constantly speaking to contemporary events and public engagement in his music, and I felt that influence, as well as some of his musical mannerisms, strongly as I composed.

In his lifetime, Aaron Copland gave us so much music, and so much specifically American music. We just heard Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man once again played at an important national moment: the memorial ceremony in Tucson, Arizona. It was uplifting to once more hear that piece under such powerful circumstances.