CANNONSBURG — The audience at tonight’s Boyd County High School spring band concert will hear something no one else on Earth has heard, except for the band itself: a new piece by Kentucky composer James Curnow.

It’s called “Primary Colors,” and tonight is its world premiere.

The band is eager to spotlight the piece.

“He’s such an awesome composer. It’s beautiful. I hope we do it justice,” said Laci Hart, a junior clarinetist.

Curnow traveled to Boyd County from his Nicholasville home to rehearse with the band and will conduct during the performance.

Premiering a musical composition is more than a novelty, according to band director John Johnson. It’s an education.

“This way the kids get an introduction into the creative process,” he said.

In this case, the creative process started with an inspiration he got from his wife, Curnow said in a telephone interview. She is an artist and was discussing primary colors; Curnow immediately latched onto the term as the title for a musical piece.

The piece has three movements, each dedicated to one of the colors — yellow, red and blue.

“I tried through music to capture the essence of what these colors mean to me,” Cunrow said.

Curnow has been a music educator for 37 years at all levels from beginning band through college. “Primary Colors” is not the first piece he has written for students.

It’s actually easier to write for high school musicians than elementary or middle school bands because their musicianship is more mature so he is less limited by their limitations, Curnow said.

Being there when the band plays his music is rewarding, he said.

“It’s a lot of fun. I get to meet the kids. The best part of working with the kids and the band director is helping the program grow and mature,” Cunrow said. “One of the reasons I like to be there is to make sure things are going the way I’d like them to go.”

Introducing a new piece to the world is both challenging and stimulating, said Brittany Hall, a senior flautist.

“It pushes you to make yourself a better musician and a better artist,” she said. “It’s a motivator. It pushes you to practice harder.”

The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the high school.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.