Pteromyini- Taxonomical classification for the flying squirrel

Mighty- Formidable, resilient, capable, or (in this case) heroic

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Stemming from a love for all things squirrel, Mighty Pteromyini is the first large scale work by Jefferson. The form seeks to musically portray the many aspects of the small critter. This starts with a playful opening that emulates how most people might see a squirrel. The texture is bright, the rhythm is energetic, and one can't help but think of a squirrel meandering up a tree only to pounce off and "fly" away. The follow section reflects the composer's personal view of the squirrel and is gentler with more pleasant tonalities and lines. Finally, there is a dark side to squirrels seldom considered. Squirrels, at times carnivorous, can be quite viscous when the need arises and the music in this section reflects a brooding darkness that's laid dormant beneath all the previous pleasantry. 

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