Autumn is always an exciting time of the year for children as they head back to school and fall sports. For the composer John O’Reilly, autumn is a special time because of the dramatic colors that dot the Adirondack Mountains in New York State. Summer is over and autumn is the lovely season that precedes the harsh winter to come. Autumn Colors is set in a natural minor tonality and features flowing melodic lines from all the winds. This lyrical ballad portrays the warm feelings the composer experiences when the leaves put on their yearly display of beautiful colors.