Compositions

The Process

Every commission is an opportunity for collaboration. While a commission helps support my creative work as an artist, it's not approached as a transaction; it's a relationship built on trust, artistry, and shared impact.  

  • We start with a conversation. Whether you are a conductor, performer, or ensemble director, I take the time to understand your goals, the project parameters, and the artistic journey you want to convey. This phase focuses on collaboration—crafting a piece that resonates with your community while allowing our collaborative voices to shine through.

  • Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, I create each piece from the ground up through an iterative and responsive process. You will receive notes and sketches, demos, and regular updates designed to ensure that the music evolves in alignment with your vision while maintaining my own creative integrity. I draw inspiration from contemporary, jazz, and electronic textures to create works that feel both personal and expansive.

  • Once the piece is complete, you will receive the scores, parts, and performance materials. These materials may include instrumentation, media integration, and any necessary technical support. I am happy to be involved beyond the delivery stage, whether that involves attending rehearsals, participating in talkbacks, or supporting the premiere performances. I often continue to make final revisions while the performers are learning the work, and edits may occur right up until the first performance. Frequently, a final, detailed copy is delivered after the premiere, incorporating all the changes we have agreed upon.

    While a commission helps support my creative work as an artist, it's not approached as a transaction; it's a relationship built on trust, artistry, and shared impact.  

Compositions Available

Purchase Music Through Murphy Music Press

For Chamber Music

For Large Ensembles

    • Piano

      • Five Narratives for Piano

      • Available HERE

    • Meditative Delay

  • “I contacted Rob Traugh to commission a piece to honor our elementary band director for her retirement. Not only did Rob compose a beautiful piece of music that was accessible to my students, but he was able to weave in so many of the details provided about our retiring band director. The title of the piece was well thought out, as was the inscription. Rob got all of the materials to me in a timely manner. He even sent over practice audio files for each instrument. He was more than willing to listen to any suggestion and ensured that the piece was exactly what I had hoped it would be. It was an absolute pleasure to work with Rob Traugh, and I hope to be able to work with him again in the future!”

    Jessica Kovacs, Band Director at South Allegheny High School

  • "We have had the privilege of working with Mr. Rob Traugh as our marching band arranger for the past twelve seasons, and I cannot express enough how grateful we are for his exceptional talent and dedication. Rob is a true master of his craft; his arrangements have transformed our band's performances into many unforgettable experiences. Rob possesses the ability to capture the essence of each musical piece. His creativity and attention to detail with varied genres shine, as well as creating arrangements that were not only educationally appropriate but also engaging to the student. Throughout the entire design process, Rob is committed and communicates effectively to all involved. He is receptive to everyone's ideas/vision and is willing to adapt when necessary. Our students enjoy working with Rob and love performing his arrangements. We look forward to working with Rob for many years to come.”

    Nick Barthen, Director of Bands at Moon Area High School

Compositions

Featured Pieces 

“Roaring Run”

"Roaring Run" is a fast-paced and energetic piece composed for the third concert ensemble at Kiski Area High School. Inspired by the Kiskiminetas River and the nearby Roaring Run trail in Apollo, Pennsylvania, this music captures both the beauty and hidden power of the river's calm surface, as well as the swift and unpredictable force beneath.

“Meditative Delay”

“Meditative Delay” is a track from the electronic EP Sapphire, featuring flutist Dr. Cassandra Eisenreich. The ambient electroacoustic composition explores repetition, resonance, and the gradual transformation of sound. With layered delays and spacious harmonic textures, it invites listeners into a contemplative space, where subtle changes create immersive shifts, blurring the line between stillness and motion.

“When the Fog Lifts”

"When the Fog Lifts" was commissioned for the 2021 Slippery Rock University Honors Flute Choir. Inspired by the Norwegian folk song ‘Når mitt øie, trett av møie’ (translated as ‘When my eye, tired of toil’), the piece employs melodic fragmentation, tonal ambiguity, and an Aeolian flute palette to create an atmosphere of uncertainty that gradually gives way to clarity. Composed in late 2020, the music reflects the emotional landscape of that time, layered with hope that the fog—both literal and metaphorical—will eventually lift.

“Spark and Fire”

"Spark and Fire" is a four-movement composition for wind ensemble that delves into themes of creativity, anxiety, and personal growth. Each movement serves as an essay that reflects on the anxieties of modern life. Drawing from personal experience, the piece combines melodic writing with rhythmic momentum and layered timbre and texture.