Alleluia #1 For Band

National Pasttime March

The score and band parts can be purchased at:
https://www.jwpepper.com/11389806.item#.Yg-7UPXMJaY
This piece has a score video at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqjo6rwnl-SSdkVqd1f26SQ

Pronounced just like the name "Bernie," this fun march is an original composition to serve as a tribute to the community of Boerne, TX. Highlighting trombones and other low instruments, this lively piece conveys a positive energy throughout. The gratuitous "trio" section at rehearsal mark "D" pays homage to the ducks at the nice city park and duck pond in downtown Boerne.

Boerne March

The score and band parts can be purchased at:
https://www.jwpepper.com/11389806.item#.Yg-7UPXMJaY
This piece has a score video at:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqjo6rwnl-SSdkVqd1f26SQ

Contrarian means things that happen when you expect the opposite. This piece if full on contrast, between sections of the composition, between the instruments, between the melodies. While most of the piece is in minor, the main melody for the primary movement is built around a whole one scale with complex back grounds and rhythm behind it. The lyrical middle love song also brands itself with contrast with the softly dissonant voicing of the supporting chords.

A rhapsody is defined as a musical composition of irregular form having an improvisatory character" - Merriam-Webster

I hope you enjoy listening to this piece.

Contrarian Rhapsody

Known as The Battle of the Bulge, a battle which was fought from December 16, 1944 through January 25, 1945, it is known as one of the most vicious and brutal battles of World War II. Not just because the of the tenaciousness of both sides and stubbornness to give up, the fierce winter weather also played a big part. Convoys getting stuck in the mud. Supplies by airdrop were not possible.  These were just two of the multitude of obstacles our troops were working against. The weather finally gave a break and allied air forces were able to conduct aerial assault on the Germans and their supply lines. Allies were able to also get reinforcements and eventually a month later end this battle. The loss of life on both sides was great, but this Allied victory marked the end of the last offensive surge for the Germans in the war. 
Among the soldiers at the Battle of the Bulge was this composer’s father, who was a Staff Sergeant in the US Army and who drove a tank across Europe. It is in his honor, and all the men who fought this great battle, that this piece is written.

I hope you enjoy this piece.

Patriotism Unleashed

The Battle of the Bulge

The score and band parts can be purchased at:

https://www.jwpepper.com/11399366.item#.Yl6saBZOnDt

This piece has a score video at:

https://youtu.be/VJzQrqMchA0

El Degüello was a bugle call that was used as a march by Mexican Army buglers during the 1836 Siege and Battle of the Alamo. This death march of a bugle call signaled that the defenders of the Alamo would receive no quarter, no mercy, by the attacking Mexican Army under General Santa Anna. This was the last thing heard by the defenders of the Alamo. It is a bright, haunting brass piece that caused Davy Crockett to say to Col. William Travis, “Kinda pretty,” in the 2004 film, “The Alamo.” In the end, the effect Santa Anna probably wanted was not achieved, as the playing of this over and over likely stirred the fire and determination of the Texas heroes.

Texas history teaches that Santa Anna allegedly had 14 military bands surrounding the Alamo playing this tune on March 6, 1836. 

During the siege of the Alamo, about 260 ‘“Texians” stood up to more than 2,400 Mexican soldiers. In the end, 258 “Texians” died, but the Mexican army’s losses counted nearly 600.

DIRECTORS NOTES
This piece expands on the melody and style of the tune, and builds throughout, telling the story of the intensity of the siege. 

The piece opens with military drums and a Spanish trumpet solo. The solo can be adlibbed on the embellishments to make it the soloist’s own.

This piece builds constantly throughout, with both crescendo-ing through the addition of instruments and increasing of volume throughout and ends with a haunting section following a recapitulation of the trumpet solo. 

Emotion should be evident throughout this piece as it tells its story. Tempo is constant throughout. The feel is definitely a death march type feel. 

This song is conflicting in that while it is a beautiful piece, known the meaning behind it and what it meant at the Alamo brings it to its sad, mournful conclusion.

El Degüello

The State of Texas was an independent nation before becoming a state. It was known as the Republic of Texas. It was in the battle for its independence that the battle of the Alamo occurred. Titled for this short-lived, but proud republic, this song is written in honor of The Daughters of the Republic, an organization formed in 1891 and best known as the sole caretakers of the Alamo. It is through their devotion and care to the history of that historic site and the state of Texas itself that the Alamo has survived through the years of vandalism, city growth, age and decay. 

Membership in this group is very select. One of the criteria states that members are those "who can prove lineal descent from men and women who rendered loyal service to Texas prior to its annexation in 1846 by the United States." This composer's sister is a member, so the interest in this group is somewhat personal. Because of this, and all this group has done to protect this treasured historic landmark, this song is written to honor them.


DIRECTOR'S NOTES

A happy, fun march which features mostly low brass, piccolo and flute. This piece should be light and every bit the 120 bmp it is marked at.

There is only one key change and that is at the trio. The two keys are Bb at the beginning and Eb at the Trio. There is a passage before the trio with a few accidentals to facilitate the key change and some in the trumpet break of the Trio which can make things a little more challenge, breaking up the norm of predicable passages. Piccolo/flute part at trio can be performed as a solo if desired. 

Dynamic changes should be exaggerated to give flavor and contrast throughout the piece.

This piece should be a fun march for your group to perform and for your audience to listen to.

Daughters of the Republic of Texas

The Republic of Texas March

Enjoy this preview version. This piece is still in development. This will be replaced with the final version once it is complete. 

The concept of this piece is based on my musical vision of The Count of Monte Cristo.

FLAVORS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Zatarra

"The Skye Boat Song" is Scottish folk song from the late 19th-century about Prince Charles Edward Stuart as he escaped capture by British troops after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Sir Harold Boulton composed the lyrics to an air by Anne Campbelle MacLeod in the 1870s, and the line "Over the Sea to Skye" is now a common phrase on the Isle of Skye. Alternative lyrics to the tune were written by Robert Louis Stevenson somewhere around 1885. 

The song most recently become famously known when composer Bear McCreary used the tune for the opening theme of the 2014 TV series Outlander.

Smooth, simple, calm and relaxing are just four words that should describe the mood of most of this level 3 concert band piece, although it builds to a Scottish triumph at the end. I hope you enjoy my arrangement of The Skye Boat Song.

The Skye Boat Song

Having graduated in 1980 from North Texas State University (now the University of North Texas) with a degree in Music Education, Marty Hill returned in 1989 to study Music Composition. A former band director, Marty has always inspired with a passion for composing, he has written for band, choir, piano and contemporary Christian rock, as well as various other styles. Having spent a good number of years in Technical Ministry (author of "The Professional's Guide to Technical Ministry." 

His current writing is for concert band and electronic music in the form of relaxation albums, although a Christmas album, a jazz trombone album and a few other genre albums are in the works as future releases. All this passion is also driving him towards his lifelong dream of film scoring.

El Degüello

Marty Hill, ASCAP

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