The first movement explores serotonin, specifically its association with regulating mood balance, happiness, and an overall sense of wellbeing. The second movement gregariously speeds through a high-energy exploration of adrenaline, known for its centralrole in fueling the "flight or fight" response.
Matthew Hightower, in addition to being a celebrated tubist, is an award-winning composer, and this made for a dynamic collaborative effort on Food for Thought. Before I began work on the piece, I asked Matt if he would be interested in sitting at his composer's desk to write an opening musical idea for the first movement and a closing musical idea for the second. Matt responded with a handful of delightful, well-crafted measures of music, and I diligently forged ahead to incorporate and develop them into the two movements of Food For Thought. Meanwhile, my brain happily bathed in copious amounts of serotonin and adrenaline. -the publisher