Name: Bye, Bye, Blackbird (1926) by Gary Heckard
Duration: 5 min 36 s
Description: Written by Ray Henderson (1896-1970) and Mort Dixon (1892-1956). Performed by Gary Heckard (1974-), trombone and Brian Kendall Moore (1973-), bass. Recorded in NYC, December, 2017.

Piano Music for HEALING and RELAXATION from Michael Drexler The Pianist.      
This is for all the ANGELS out there.
I wrote this song for YOU
And for anyone who needs to hear something POSITIVE.       
Sending you LOVE.
From my PIANO keys to your EARS.

angel's slumber

glass

evening dew

Variations on a Canarian Hymn is a piece for concert band. It is in the classic theme and variations form, starting with a presentation of the folk song in its entirety, then following with six variations of the folk song. Each variation displays different colors and moods of the symphonic band. The triumphal ending depicts the strength of the Canarian people. The piece features several instruments, some with extended solos including: flute, oboe, alto saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, English horn and timpani. There are several cues in the parts to cover certain instruments that may not be available, such as English horn.
Variations on a Canarian Hymn was commissioned and composed for the Banda Muncipal of Tenerife, Spain, Filipe Neri, conductor. They premiered it on June 25, 2017. The American premiere was March 21, 2019 by the University of Wisconsin River Falls Symphony Band, Kristin Tjornehoj, Conductor.
The Canary Islands is a region of Spain. The anthem used in the Canaries for local official occasions is an adaptation of a local folk song called “Arrorró” (Lullaby) by Teobaldo Power (1848 – 1884). Tenerife is the largest and most populated island of the seven Canary Islands. Tenerife has a special relation to Columbus and the New World as he first stopped in Tenerife on each of his passages before sailing to the New World. There is a plaque in the center of Tenerife city depicting this.

Gregory Fritze is a prize-winning composer and Fulbright Scholar, as well as an active performer. He recently retired from Berklee College of Music where he was Professor and Chair of Composition, serving on the faculty from 1979 to 2016. He has written over one hundred compositions for orchestra, band, chamber ensembles and soloists. He has won over sixty composition awards both nationally and internationally. His compositions include works published by several publishers in the United States, South America and Europe that have been performed extensively throughout the world. Many of his compositions are available on ITunes, Youtube and Soundcloud. 
He has been a frequent traveler to Spain since 1993 and has promoted compositions by Spanish composers around the world. He is the only composer who has been commissioned six times by Spanish bands for Certamen competitions, with each band winning first prize. 
His compositions are recorded on Albany Records, MSR Classics, Crystal Records, Mark Records and others. He has been a guest lecturer, conductor and performer at many colleges, universities and music festivals in the United States, Canada, Japan, South America and Europe. He was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania in 1954 and has Composition degrees from the Boston Conservatory and Indiana University. He now resides in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida

Variations on a Canarian Hymn

Written by Ray Henderson (1896-1970) and Mort Dixon (1892-1956). Performed by Gary Heckard (1974-), trombone and Brian Kendall Moore (1973-), bass. Recorded in NYC, December, 2017.

Bye, Bye, Blackbird (1926)

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Bye, Bye, Blackbird (1926)

Gary Heckard

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