About the work and its thematic content:
	
unBroken begins inside the mind of the individual afflicted with mental illness.  Overlapping pitches and pleasant dissonance reflect the workings of a mind in conversation with itself.  The “family” motive, a series of five notes articulated in the piano, is first introduced here (representing my parents, myself, and my two brothers).  The “mind” theme, a three note motive that conveys both beauty and peace (D-flat, C, A-flat), is first heard in the tenor voices and is repeated as the thought cloud develops.  However, it becomes distorted by a half step (D-flat, C, A), introducing an element of bitterness.  Warning signs and cracks begin to become evident as various thoughts and emotions race and compete with each other until the individual cries out to silence them.
	A solo flute introduces the next segment, as the individual tries to navigate the world and their life.  The melody (“Shirley’s Theme”) is hopeful, melancholy, and brave.  As it continues, it becomes distracted as the inner mind begins to exert more and more influence on the outer life.  A twelve-tone matrix is first heard in the piano, as the individual’s ability to cope begins to waver.  A dialogue ensues in which the individual tries to assert their hold on the illness, assuring everyone that they are fine. The theme becomes more and more desperate as the individual struggles to keep themselves together; they make one last herculean attempt before the inevitable break occurs.
	The work takes on a sinister, playful character as the individual enters a manic state.   The clarinet introduces a new melody which is built on the distorted mind motive and leads the listener through a series of short episodes as the individual’s mood and character change violently.    Thoughts rush, leading nowhere, and in a whirl of turmoil and noise, the individual sees the world and themselves through a distorted lens.  The atonal matrix and distorted mind motives are combined into a cacophony of rage and destruction as the individual loses control of their life.
	In the silence that follows, a lone clarinet sounds, bravely pulling itself from the wreckage.  The individual begins the difficult process of acknowledging the illness and beginning to face it.  Its strength and its confidence build until it emerges into a fanfare that is simultaneously triumphant and melancholy, able to cope with its problems but aware of the challenges that lie ahead in living with this burden.  The main theme returns as the individual resumes their life, unbroken and whole, but changed. The work ends as it began, inside the mind of the individual.  There is still dissonance, but the dissonance is pleasant and peaceful.  The final crescendo sounds as the individual looks towards the future with hope.

unBroken (Grade 5, Randall Standridge)

Dominion (Concert Band, Grade 2) - Randall Standridge

Salvation is Created serves as a recurring theme in this powerful show by Randall Standridge, depicting the eternal battle between Good and Evil.  The show begins with a powerful prologue (The Battle Eternal) before launching into a sinister series of section features (The Dark Brigade).  Then, a stunning and original take on Salvation is Created rings out (Voices of Light) before the show concludes with an epic battle (Dark vs. Light).  With multiple opportunities for visual effect and costuming, this show is sure to be a hit at games and contests alike.

Angels and Demons (Standridge, Marching Band, Grade 2.5)

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to create an amazing production with this new show by Randall Standridge and Maureen Longo.  Written in classic "spy jazz" style, this achievable yet effective show casts a web of mystery and espionage.  Section features, solos, and tasteful percussion writing combine to create a cinematic experience for your students and audience.  This show is written in our "Developing Band" format, which features optional careful attention to range demand, melody lines transposed for all instruments, optional low brass bass doubles, limited sideline percussion, and cueing on all electronic elements.

Agent 54 (Standridge/Longo, Marching Band, Grade 1.5)

A cinematic sensibility and exciting use of melody are utilized in this terrific new show by Grand Mesa Marching new-comer, JaRod Hall. The show depicts both an internal and external journey through conflict and strife.  At times exciting, combative, and triumphant, this production contains a multitude of visual opportunities for you and your staff to take advantage of.

Journey Through Darkness (Hall, Marching Band, Grade 3)

Shadow Fire (Concert Band, Grade .5, Randall Standridge)

Why I wrote (not) Alone

Many who live with mental health conditions experience a profound sense of isolation. Discussing these issues and more so, identifying as someone who lives with them, has been extremely taboo in our society.  Thus, many suffer in silence, facing their troubles with no support.  But, as the title of the work implies, they are not alone.
I live with depression and anxiety.  I have tried to use my platform to normalize discussions about mental health and to help start conversations about this issue.  Here are some statistics you may or may not be aware of:
1 in 5 of adults in the US experience mental health issues each year.
1 in 6 youths in the US experience mental health issues each year.
90% of suicides worldwide are attributable to mental illness.
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death in the United States.
With statistics like this, it is shocking and frustrating that so many people are reluctant to acknowledge, discuss, and address these issues.
In 2021, I was asked to create a work for wind ensemble addressing mental illness.  The resultant work, “unBroken”, is one of my favorite works I have ever created, both from an aesthetic and personal perspective.  However, this work is very advanced (Grade 5), which limits its demographic for performers and, thus, audiences.
Those of us that teach or have taught middle school and high school know that there is a need to address this issue at younger ages, and to make such tools available to middle schools and developing high school ensembles.
I decided to make this work a consortium, expecting there would be 20-30 schools that would support such a piece.  40 tops.
The consortium included over 300 schools.
This is an issue whose time has come.  The time is now.  We need to talk about this, and we are going to talk about this.
We are going to show them all that they are not alone.
 
About the work
The piece starts very softly, with both beauty and dissonance.  The individual is aware that something is wrong but is trying to bravely persist.  A soloist  introduces the main theme of the work, a bittersweet melody that is lovely and vulnerable.  As the first segment continues, dissonant elements and a three note descending theme signals the onset of a mental health crisis.
The second segment is manic and violent.  The individual struggles with their condition as everything seems to be in darkness.  The piece builds to a thunderous moment before dying away to a cloud of confusion.  Their heartbeat is heard racing and then slowing.  The individual is broken.
The original theme sounds out again, unaccompanied, but others join in.  The work rises to a triumphant climax, as a sense of solidarity is achieved.  The work ends with the soloist again, but more confident and with others there for support.
 
Major Themes
There are four major themes that are used in the work. 
The first, which I call “Shirley’s Theme”, after my mother who lives with severe depression, is first heard at measure 9.  This work is used throughout, both in whole and in part, so signify the individual.
The second theme, a three note descending motif, appears throughout the work.  It is twisted a minor second down and minor third, and it represents the darkness inside the individual’s mind.  This is the “Mental Illness Motif.”
The third theme, the “hope” motif, is the five note motif that starts the work in the piano/mallets.  It represents the individual trying to find hope for happiness and a better future.
The fourth theme, the “crisis” motif,  is a 12-tone row, first sounded in m.42.  12 tone music has always sound disturbing and inhuman to me, and I found this to be a great way to express mental illness and despair.  The 12-tone row is built off of various iterations and inversions of the second theme (“Mental Illness Motif”).

(not) Alone (Grade 2.5, Randall Standridge)

Fragile (Grade 1.5-2, Concert Band, Standridge)

Choose Joy (Grade 3, Randall Standridge)

Note: This is a rough recording...we will update it in the upcoming months...but this will give you an idea of the show. Contact us if you want to reserve it for the upcoming season!

Two classical favorites are mashed together in this exciting new production from Randall Standridge.  Pictures at an Exhibition and Night on Bald Mountain are fused into a wonderfully dark score that has been written to showcase all elements of your ensemble.  Sinister, exciting, and powerful, this new twist on familiar themes is sure to provide tons of opportunity for effect to delight your performers and audience alike!

Pictures At Bald Mountain (Marching Band, Grade 2.5, Randall Standridge)

Note: This is a rough recording...we will update it in the upcoming months...but this will give you an idea of the show. Contact us if you want to reserve it for the upcoming season!

Danger and excitement lurk around every corner in this thrilling new production from Randall Standridge.  Based on the cinematic scores of film noir and detective classics, this show depicts a breakout from prison, and the ensuing chase across an urban landscape.  Multiple section features and solo moments ensure that your band will have the opportunity to showcase all of their strengths

Breakout (Marching Band, Grade 2.5, Randall Standridge)

Dark Beginnings (Concert Band, Grade 1 - Randall Standridge)

Blackbeard (Grade .5, Randall Standridge)

March Of The Sad Santas - Brandon Robinson, Concert Band, Grade 2

Ready The Castle - JaRod Hall, Concert Band, Grade 1

Afterburn Relaunch - Randall Standridge, Concert Band, Grade 2

Slither into the shadowed realm of ancient legends with Medusa, a riveting four-part production by Randall Standridge. Part 1, "The Curse," sets the tone, chronicling Medusa's haunting metamorphosis from beauty to beast. In Part 2, "Perseus," we encounter the fearless hero destined to confront the dreaded Gorgon. "The Lair of the Gorgon," the third part, evokes an atmosphere thick with suspense and foreboding, leading us to the climactic Part 4, "The Battle," where hero and monster meet in a fateful showdown. Solo opportunities and section features add to the effect and are sure to please audiences and judges alike!

Medusa (Marching Band, Grade 2.5, Randall Standridge)

Eureka! You've found it! Take to the field with this exciting new production by Randall Standridge, based on his work Imaginarium. This exploration of creativity bursts to life with an energetic opening before drawing audiences into the dreamy tranquility of "The Cloud Factory." Yet, as dreams often turn, an aggressive shift introduces "Here There Be Monsters," exploring the darker corners of the imaginative realm. Captivating, serene, and exhilarating, "Imaginarium" navigates the wondrous highs and thrilling depths of human creativity.

Imaginarium (Marching Band, Grade 2.5, Randall Standridge)

Embark on a chilling voyage with Ghost Ship, a haunting production by Randall Standridge. Join Captain Fangg and his dauntless crew as they navigate the treacherous waters of Shadow Cove, lured by tales of hidden treasures. But the tides turn as they come face to face with the ominous Specter's Wake, a ghost ship manned by phantom pirates, cursed to guard their loot for eternity. Intense, mysterious, and cinematic, "Ghost Ship" plunges audiences into a maritime tale where dead men tell no tales.  ARRRRRGH!

Ghost Ship (Marching Band-Developing Band Series, Grade 2, Randall Standridge)

Song Of The 16th Empire (Grade 1.5, Randall Standridge)

Rev - Randall Standridge (Grade 3.5, Concert Band)

Scream (Randall Standridge, Grade 1.5, Concert Band)

Stay (Randall Standridge, Grade 2, Concert Band)

Wrath of the Mechanical Monsters (Randall Standridge, Concert Band, Grade .75-1)

Ele(mental) - (Randall Standridge, Grade .5-1, Concert Band)

Apricity is a beautiful old-fashioned word meaning “warmth of the sun during winter.” Equally beautiful is this new piece by Nicolás Repetto, which perfectly captures this feeling of warmth. Opening with the quite of winter, students will explore rubato and legato playing as the piece ebbs and flows through graceful themes, dramatic harmonic shifts and joyous moments of splendor.

Apricity (Nicolás Repetto, String Orchestra, Grade 3)

Embark on a musical journey that celebrates the courage, resilience, and sheer heroism found within every young spirit. March of the Defenders is an homage to our heroes, whether past or present, real or imagined, expressed though rhythmically driving motives and epic themes that will keep every player engaged throughout.

March of the Defenders (Jeffrey Hart, String Orchestra, Grade 3.5)

Intense, wild, and energetic describe spirit of this dance for string orchestra! Ghosts of Bohemia offers all sections a lot of action, musical energy, and technical challenges. Performers and audiences will surely enjoy the rapid-fire 16th note passages, contrasting with the larger sweeping phrases, and the string effects such as strum pizzicato, trills, glissandos, and double-stops that all help to shape the colors and characters of this exhilarating piece.

Ghosts of Bohemia (Joshua Reznicow, String Orchestra, Grade 4.5)

This lively arrangement blends Brahms's Variations on a Theme by Haydn with Jolly Old St. Nicholas, creating a new holiday favorite. While capturing the essence of Brahms's symphonic orchestration the piece helps advancing students explore bow technique and dynamics in a robust romantic style. Optional percussion enhances the holiday spirit, and an optional beginning part allows you to include even your youngest of players!

Jölly Old Variations (arr. Caryn Wiegand Neidhold, String Orchestra, Grade 4)

Immerse yourself in the tapestry of Mexico's rich musical heritage with this captivating piece for string orchestra. The opening adagio will pull at your heart strings, while the contrasting dance-like section will lift you off your feet. Through evocative melodies, rich harmonies, and vibrant rhythms, this stirring piece weaves together the tender nuances of grief with the enduring joy of cherished memories.

A Su Merced, Don Jose (Nubia Jamie Donjuan, String Orchestra, Grade 4.5)

Uplifting and bursting with energy, this wonderful work combines driving motives, catchy rhythms, introductory shifting, and a pops-inspired feel to celebrate the moments when we can all find joy in our lives. Part of the "unBroken project" - a series of pieces pertaining to mental health.

Blue Sky Horizon (Randall Standridge, String Orchestra, Grade 3)

Celebrate the excitement of the Summer and the Olympic Games with this energetic work by Katie O'Hara LaBrie. This piece bursts with joy through celebratory melodies and accented motor rhythms, while hints of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy theme bring the piece and the players together as one.

Overjoyed (Katie O'Hara LaBrie, String Orchestra, Grade 4)

Christmas Light Fanfare (Randall Standridge, Concert Band, Grade 1.5)

Too Much Percussion for Christmas (Trash the Halls!) - Standridge, Grade 1.5-2, Concert Band

A march for concert band; Part 1 of the Darklands Symphony.  Performed by the University of Northern Colorado Symphonic Band, Dr. Richard Mayne conducting.  Available from Grand Mesa Music Publishers.

Grand Mesa 2014

Darklands March

An exciting concert opener that channels the composer's love for Video Game and cinematic music.  Performed by the University of Northern Colorado Symphonic Band, Dr. Richard Mayne conducting.  Available from Grand Mesa Music Publishers.

2015 New Music for Concert Band - Disk 2

Armory

Shambling creatures made of metal come to life in this eerie offering for beginning band from Randall Standridge.  The first six notes for young band (plus one extra accidental!) are utilized in unique fashion to create a work that sounds much more difficult than it is.  Playful interplay of eighth notes, metallic percussion, and moments for the winds to "hiss" and play rhythms on their stands combine to great effect in this work that is sure to grab your players' attention.

Popular tracks by Randall Standridge