When I heard Gerard Schwarz's beautiful, richly brooding piece for cello and strings, In Memoriam, which Music of Remembrance premiered in 2005, I conjectured?and hoped?that shifting his focus to composition would make an ideal "out" whenever he decided to step down from leading the Seattle Symphony. He made the announcement in September 2008, and, yes indeed, his musical output has since been growing. On July 26, the Seattle Chamber Music Society premiered a commissioned horn trio?an arresting piece drawing on his own Jewish musical roots, packed with emotion and flash and honeyed melodies and all the other things players love to grab hold of. And Schwarz will open his valedictory SSO season Sept. 11 with The Human Spirit, a new orchestral work inspired by the Aaron Copland quote chiseled into the Union Street facade of Benaroya Hall?a building which will not be the only lasting legacy of his tenure. ?Gavin Borchert seattlesymphony.org.