This is a EXACTLY ONE MINUTE march for concert band I wrote. It is for the Fifteen-Minutes-of-Fame: West Point Band competition, in which composers summit 1 minute works. This is one of mine. 

March Of The Mad King ROUGH DRAFT (for Concert Band) MIDI Demo

http://calebhammer.com/into-existence/

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Video score- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF4aCTDPcuw

Josh Bartz (Director of Bands at Portage Northern High School in Southwest Michigan) was looking for a challenging new experience for his high school students. This was the very first idea of what ended up becoming my first ever concert band piece, Into Existence. I was a student of his three years before I was asked to write this piece, and for a while we have been talking about a composition opportunity. It finally got off the ground as a new, exciting, and challenging piece for his students. At this time in his teaching career, his “Wind Ensemble” (top of three bands at the school) was one of the best groups of musicians he has ever had in his teaching experience. Because of this, the very idea of composing a new work for them was very exciting. I could nearly write anything I wanted and they would be able to play it. So in early December of 2015, we had a meeting about this new piece. The directions were very simple for my first concert band work: Very hard, exciting, energetic, and about five minutes. Basically what a perfect closer to a long concert would be. The piece was finished March 9th of 2016.

Into Existence is everything an exciting and short concert band closer should be, in my mind. It is very fast, exciting, and epic. The idea of this piece came from the scientific theory of the big bang. When this occurred 13.8 billion years ago, 99% of the universe was almost instantly destroyed. 99% of the matter that the universe consisted of was destroyed by antimatter. We are able to understand matter and antimatter by agitating space. When we do this, matter and antimatter pop Into Existence, and in less than a second, abliderate each other. From this very interesting concept, I decided it would be a great idea to follow for a piece. Motives all across the ensemble, and within sections, pop Into Existence and out very quickly.

The piece captures the intensity that was the creation of the universe, from almost standpoint of every belief system. It was a very dramatic experience that created what we have today. From the Astrophysics big band theory, it was a very well and organized chaotic situation, following scientific laws. That is exactly what this piece is, organized chaos. It demonstrates the power of space, nature, and what we still do not understand. The 5 minutes this piece consists of is a great adventure that captures many ideas about what our universe may be.

This work would not exist if not for Josh Bartz and the Portage Northern High School Wind Ensemble. My greatest thanks and gratitude goes out to them.

Caleb Hammer- March 9, 2016 (age 21)

Into Existence was premiered on May 19, 2016.

Into Existence [LIVE]- Caleb Hammer

http://www.calebhammer.com/fanfare-for-life-and-death/

PROGRAM NOTE:

“Fanfare for Life and Death” came out of the idea of my biggest fear- death. It’s not so much a fear of myself dying, but a fear for those I love around me. Life drags on each day, and you realize life is getting shorter and shorter. Those around you may not be with you as long as you would like. This brings me intense fear, sadness, and anger whenever it crosses my mind. This fanfare is not like many other fanfares- this one is pure anger. Sure, it’s loud, as fanfares tend to be- but, this fanfare is angry, aggressive, and downright mean spirited. During the last minute and a half, it ends on a happier side. Because I know, even with my fear, that those around me have impacted my life in ways I will never forget. So because of this, they will never truly leave me.

Caleb Hammer, 21.

-Fanfare for Life and Death was completed on October 23, 2016
-Premiered October 31, 2016- Dalton Recital Hall, Western Michigan University School of music

INSTRUMENTATION:
Horn 1-4
Trumpet 1-3
Trombone 1-2
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion 1-2

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Fanfare For Life And Death [OFFICIAL]- Caleb Hammer

View more about Beyond, including score and ordering: http://www.calebhammer.com/new-page-2
Program Note:

Beyond is a work that pushes forward and beyond. The idea came from the history of science and where we find ourselves today. From discovering fire, to putting a man on the moon. Humankind has always pushed forward. through good and bad, we have pushed to discover our place in the universe. Beyond was written with an image in mind- an image of a spaceship taking off and leaving our atmosphere. This image that we all have seen many times would have seemed impossible 200 years ago. It is amazing what we, the human race, has accomplished with our short time on this tiny rock in our solar system. 

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Beyond (Grade 2 Concert Band) [MIDI Playback]- Caleb Hammer

Download/Order, or to find out more- http://www.calebhammer.com/chant-and-whispers-1
Read by the Western Michigan USO, conducted by me. 
PROGRAM NOTE:
The morning is dark and eerie, the fog is beginning to set. The working people of Tokyo rise to the day, just as every day before them. Today was just like every normal day, except for one thing. Ancient evil has always been said to be lurking, and today is the day it is brought to life. Tides are different, but weather is normal. Boats seem to be hitting ground at sea out of nowhere, and waves start to rise. A great evil begins to rise from the sea. Today is the day, the day Godzilla finally rises from the deep to introduce himself to mankind and wreak havoc.

Ancient evil is a cliche that has stuck with Hollywood over the years, and the story of monsters like Godzilla are no different. An old evil always seems to rise and strike it’s horror upon mankind. Chant and Whispers tries to tell a cliche Hollywood story of an ancient evil rising from the darkness. It opens with a chant melody that mimics the old chants from the beginning of religious music, in our history. The texture hints at something dark to come, as low brass swells to and from the melody. A new melody using Eastern melodic scales takes over as the story of a cool early morning in Tokyo begins. Eventually, the theme of evil takes over in low strings and winds, but quietly. As the chant returns, it begins to build as we are finally introduced to the evil that the music has been hinting to. All havoc is released.

-Caleb Hammer
-March 21, 2017
-Age 22

-All PARTS are separate, but flute, oboes, clarinets, horns, trumpets, and trombones are combined in the score for spacing.

Instrumentation:

Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
Clarinet in Bb 1
Clarinet in Bb 2
Bassoon
Contrabass Bassoon
Horn in F 1
Horn in F 2
Horn in F 3
Horn in F 4
Trumpet in C 1
Trumpet in C 2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass Trombone
Tuba
3 Percussion
Violins 1
Violins 2
Violas
Cellos
Basses 

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Chant And Whispers (Symphonic Orchestra)[USO Reading]- Caleb Hammer

This is a MIDI mockup performed by Note Performer of my second chamber orchestral work- Silver Screen Tango. It will be recorded and released in the later end of Spring, maybe early Summer.

Instrumentation:
Flute
Oboe
Clarinet in Bb
Trumpet in Bb
Horn in F
Tenor Trombone
2 percussion
Violin 1
Violin 2
Viola
Cello
String Bass

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Silver Screen Tango (Chamber Orchestra) [MIDI Playback]- Caleb Hammer

Download/order or to find out more, visit: www.calebhammer.com/vegas-underground
PROGRAM NOTE:
Las Vegas is a very interesting place, no other city in the world compares. Sleep by day, party by night. The city is always blooming with new faces as everyone want a taste. But, underneath the great times of vegas there can be dominant control over the entire city. This is often depicted in movies like “Casino” or “Ocean's Eleven”. Crime overlords of the city run Vegas with corruption and complete dominance. The filthy underground of vegas has been depicted loud and clear in many movies over the years, and that is exactly what Vegas Underground does, but this time in a musical setting. Whether or not the underground network of crime truly exists or controls the city, we may never know. One thing that’s clear is that it’s made for very entertaining stories over the years.

Caleb Hammer - April 1, 2017

-Age 22

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Vegas Underground (Chamber Orchestra) [LIVE]- Caleb Hammer

-Download/Order, or to find out more:
http://www.calebhammer.com/breaking-point
PROGRAM NOTE:

There are many things that composers must think about when it comes to writing for performers. One of the more simple concepts is the difficulty of the work and level that the performers typically play at. When a collaboration between Dr. Jacob Cameron and the composition studio at Western Michigan University came to be, he asked for a composer to write a work for the high achieving undergraduate group- the Russell Brown Brass Quintet. With the level of performers I was able to work with, I decided to write a quintet that would push them to their breaking point. Fast gestures, high licks, extreme dynamics, and a crazy fast tempo are just some of the things included in this very demanding work.

Caleb Hammer- April 5, 2017

-Age 22

Premiered by the Russell Brown Brass Quintet on April 2nd, 2017

Recording Engineer: Alexander Tobin

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Breaking Point (Brass Quintet) [OFFICIAL]- Caleb Hammer

www.calebhammer.com
Program Note:
Not many things in life are as exciting as a good ol’ pirate adventure movie. Tidewater is just that, but instead of a movie, it’s a piece of music written for band. This work takes audience members on an exciting journey through a pirate adventure, maybe to find some gold or pillage a town! Tidewater is an excellent work for a mid-level band, pushing their limits in range, technique, and tempo. The excitement builds in range, dynamics, and density all towards the end, and a dramatic conclusion.

My thanks to Colin Johnson for the title.

-Caleb Hammer February 20, 2017

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Tidewater (Grade 3+/4 Concert Band) [LIVE]- Caleb Hammer

www.calebhammer.com
PROGRAM NOTE:
Program Note

Modern spirituality is centered on the "deepest values and meanings by which people live." It embraces the idea of an ultimate or an alleged immaterial reality. It envisions an inner path enabling a person to discover the essence of his/her being. This work embodies how someone may get through a rough part of their life with their inner spirituality being yoga, meditation, prayer, or self-focus.

Within the thirteen minutes of this concerto, three main sections are presented: pain, spirituality, and a joyful awakening. The painful section focuses on groves with mixing genres such as metal, jazz, and blues. Incorporated in this are scales that you may find in that music with beat patterns and extreme dissonance. In the spirituality section, the music focuses on self-meditation. The harmonies are quite static as the music only expands texturally, included with slight tempo variance. In the final section, the awakening is represented with fast and light musical gestures fluttering within the upper woodwinds and bells in the percussion. Focusing on major melodic figures, the concerto flies at a fast pace to the end with excitement and joy.

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Spiritual Awakening (Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble) [PLAYBACK]- Caleb Hammer

To Order/View: http://www.calebhammer.com/solar-flare
Program Note

From a faraway perspective, the natural phenomena of the sun's solar flare is another spectacle to behold in the wonders of our solar system. Its presence on the sun's surface level is shockingly illuminating, a sheer feat in and of itself. However, within this beauty lies an even darker threat to our own planet's most technological advances: the coronal mass ejection, another natural phenomena prone to disrupt radio communications, damage satellites, and create large power outages for extended durations of time among other things.

"Solar Flare" encapsulates both the mystery of this dazzling aura with its powerful destructive capabilities. It begins with a sense of wonder - yet, it does not stay there for long. A persistent motive slowly creeps in and takes over, leading to a fast-paced game of survival against the awesome might of this beautiful, but dangerous, display.

Program note was written by Josh Trentadue

Solar Flare was completed on January 22, 2018

Age 22, Caleb Hammer

Solar Flare Info

-Grade 2.5
-Ca. 6 minutes

-Parts

Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
Bassoon
Clarinet in Bb 1
Clarinet in Bb 2
Bass Clarinet in Bb
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

Trumpet in Bb 1
Trumpet in Bb 2
Horn in F 1
Horn in F 2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Euphonium
Tuba

Bass Drum
Tam-Tam, Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tom Toms, Vibraphone
Glockenspiel, Hi-Hat, Anvil (or Brake Drum)
Marimba, China, Crash, Splash

-Anvil (or Brake Drum) should be hit with metal
-Parts may be doubled, tripled, etc. as needed/wanted
-Fast tempo may want to be conducted in 2
-If not able to go full tempo, go as fast as possible

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Solar Flare (Concert Band) [PLAYBACK DEMO]- Caleb Hammer

www.calebhammer.com
PROGRAM NOTE:
Throughout the nights, months leading up to the creation of this work, my editing for commissions started going later and later in the early hours into the morning as I tried to finish up projects. One day I found myself up at 2 am on a weekday with the energy that most people have at noon on a normal day. Apparently, this was the new time for me to get work done and I felt truly alive and active when everyone else was sleeping. During this time I decided to write a new work about this time in my life. 

The work follows three main sections: the first section is related to the night coming about and my energy still being full. the second section is about the world around me at night. At this time, nearly everyone else is asleep and everything feels truly silent, even as I lived on a busy street. The third and final section is about my mind coming out of that quiet place and living my life. I’d notice the quiet world around me, and then I’d make it loud and active in my own ways. This section is very similar to the first as it follows the same mindset of being alive in my world during the early hours of the day while everyone was at rest in their beds. Since then, my sleep schedule has thankfully reversed. But, it is fun to look back at being a night owl- that’s when I decided to write a piece about it.

Caleb Hammer- April 21, 2018

Age 23

Walking Through The Night (Concert Band) [Playback Demo]- Caleb Hammer

Tidewater performed by the Purdue University Campus Band under the direction of Jonathan Sweet.
Link to Tidewater:

http://www.calebhammer.com/tidewater/?rq=tidewater

Tidewater (Purdue University Campus Band) [LIVE]- Caleb Hammer

VIEW: www.calebhammer.com/holiday-delight
PROGRAM NOTE

In my mind, there is no more enjoyable time of the year than the Holiday Season. I love the colors, joy, the family, and of course the food. My favorite song from this season is “O Holy Night”. Although arranging is not the focus of my composition career, I love this tune and I wanted to create a brand new work around the thematic ideas of this song (with a couple thematic calls to other classic holiday tunes). This is a quick and energetic piece celebrating the magic of the Holiday Season.

Caleb Hammer- May 14, 2018

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Holiday Delight (Concert Band) [Playback Demo]- Caleb Hammer

View and/or order: http://www.calebhammer.com/himalayan-peaks

Performed on May 24, 2018, by Central Davidson High School under the direction of Rodney K. Workman

PROGRAM NOTE

Of all the natural wonders that exist in the world, there is nothing quite like the unique majestic landscape of the Himalayan Mountains. Referred to by the Tibetans as "The Land of Snow," these beautiful summits are only partly covered by such weather at their peak, where the greatest views of the surrounding horizon can be beheld. Home as well to one of the tallest mountains, the famous Mount Everest, the journey up to the Himalayan peaks is treacherous at almost every corner, yet wondrous and rewarding every step of the way.

Caleb Hammer's "Himalayan Peaks" is this magnificent journey, from its soft and twinkling beginnings all the way to its epic conclusion. Shrouded in part by some mystery in a few moments, this work encapsulates the beauty of the Himalayan wintry landscape within the various unique colors and textures of the band, driving the adventure forward within its pentatonic nature and sweeping melodic material. Near its final steps, this even seems to conjure up the spirits of the mountains themselves, with its earth-shattering percussive entrance revealing the glorious surrounding landscape upon arriving to the mountaintop and why the Himalayas are truly one of the most breathtaking natural wonders of the world.

Program note written by Josh Trentadue

Himalayan Peaks was completed on January 7th, 2018

INSTRUMENTATION
Piccolo

Flute 1

Flute 2

Oboe 1

Oboe 2

Clarinet in Bb 1

Clarinet in Bb 2

Clarinet in Bb 3

Bass Clarinet in Bb

Bassoon

Alto Saxophone 1

Alto Saxophone 2

Tenor Saxophone

Baritone Saxophone

Trumpet in Bb 1

Trumpet in Bb 2

Trumpet in Bb 3

Horn in F 1

Horn in F 2

Horn in F 3

Horn in F 4

Trombone 1

Trombone 2

Bass Trombone

Euphonium 1

Euphonium 2

Tuba

Timpani (4 drums)

Bass Drum

Suspended Cymbal

Glockenspiel, Cymbals (crash-china-splash), Marimba, Wind Chimes

Marimba, Tam-Tam, Snare Drum

Vibraphone, Chimes, Cymbals (crash-china)

Piano

*Only need one of each percussion instrument even though some are listed in two parts

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Himalayan Peaks (Concert Band)[Premiere]- Caleb Hammer

View more/buy- http://www.calebhammer.com/yellow-fleet
Program Note:

The Six-Day War between Israel and Egypt brought about devastating consequences to the traders shipping food and other supplies along the Suez Canal between the years of 1967 and 1975. Ships scuttled by Egyptian soldiers had blocked both sides of this passageway, effectively stranding a group of fifteen intact ships to other nearby ports. Over eight years and countless battles between Egypt and Israel, it came to pass that only two ships were given the opportunity to return back home of their own accord, while crew members from the other stranded ships joined forces to reduce the maintenance needed to keep them intact.

This collection of ships and their crew members came to be known as the "Yellow Fleet", a title earned from a yellow coating of desert sand which eventually surfaced on board every ship in the group. This musical journey is comprised of two contrasting sections, one which highlights the anticipation of arriving at the canal and another that reveals its devastation during these tumultuous events. Several thematic ideas are scattered throughout as they are ultimately transformed into a chaotic, yet epic adventure along the banks of the Suez Canal.

Program note was written by Josh Trentadue

Yellow Fleet was completed on March 18, 2018

Age 23, Caleb Hammer

 

INFO
 

Parts Included:

 

Piccolo

Flute 1

Flute 2

Flute 3

Oboe 1

Oboe 2

Clarinet in Bb1

Clarinet in Bb2

Clarinet in Bb3

Bass Clarinet

Bassoon

Soprano Saxophone

Alto Saxophone

Tenor Saxophone

Baritone Saxophone

 

Trumpet in Bb 1

Trumpet in Bb 2

Trumpet in Bb 3

Horn in F 1

Horn in F 2

Horn in F 3

Horn in F 4

Trombone 1

Trombone 2

Bass Trombone

Euphonium

Tuba

 

Percussion 1: Suspended Cymbal/Snare Drum/Kick Drum

Percussion 2: Bass Drum

Percussion 3: Tom Toms

Percussion 4: Marimba/Crash Cymbal/Splash Cymbal/China Cymbal/hi-Hat/Suspended Cymbal/Kick Drum/Shaker

Percussion 5: Bongos

Percussion 6: Congas

 

Double Bass

 

*parts may be double/tripped as seen fit

*some percussion parts have the same instruments as other, however only one is needed as they never play them at the same time

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Yellow Fleet (Concert Band)[Live]- Caleb Hammer

View more- www.calebhammer.com

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@calebhammer
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Home of the Brave (Brass and Percussion Fanfare)[Premiere]- Caleb Hammer

www.calebhammer.com/industrial-funk1

After many nights of not being able to compose anything, Industrial Funk started as a mistake and turned into something wonderful. The original idea was intended to be a piece about the industrial might of the United States during the Industrial Revolution. After the first few sections of writing, I could tell it was going nowhere musically. One day in the middle of the night a funky motive popped in my head, and I thought it would be funny to see how it sounded over this “industrial” theme. To my surprise, it actually worked out well! I continued with this funky idea overlapping the industrial groove, building motivic development, and creating a cohesive form. In the end, Industrial Funk was born.

Caleb Hammer- October 2019

Age 24

Industrial Funk (Concert Band)[Live]- Caleb Hammer

www.calebhammer.com
Caleb Hammer was born in Kalamazoo Michigan on February 14, 1995. Caleb studied music composition at Western Michigan University for his undergrad with Dr. Richard Adams and Dr. lisa R. Coons. Caleb currently chairs as the Vice President of the WSCA. Caleb is always taking on new projects and working with new groups every year.
calebhammercomposer@gmail.com

Caleb Hammer | Composer

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