A Busy Trip

The title is a reflection of the work. It illustrates its rousing and cheerful character and at the same time hints at the hurry and haste in which we live. The tempo, an allegro, emphasises this hectic pace.
The title is also significant for the genesis of the work: the author only needed two weeks to complete the piece.
In this work, he develops a new musical language without denying his previous one.

Speed On!

Metrum

Inspired by the phrase " The Light at the End of the tunnel," this piece symbolizes hope and promise of relief after difficulty times. Throughout life, we all face hardships and struggles, whether it is personal problems or with mental health.

Meaning: no matter how dark the journey may seems, we must continue moving forward and strive to the Light at the End.


©Copyright 2024 Joel Del Valle 
All rights reserved


Art credit: @https.louize (Instagram)

The Light at the End: For Saxophone Quartet

Do you have an all-star clarinet player or section in your beginning band? Bring your student/s up to the front of the stage and showcase their talent in an end of the year concert. This piece gives the clarinet an exercise all around the lower range and offers a few optional moments to go over the break in this concerto-like tune.

Clarinetus for Beginning Band by Charles Mekealian

A concert band piece written in the key of Eb major, primarily in 4/4. This piece was commissioned and performed by Southeastern Women in Music in 2023. When we began our collaboration, they gave me free reign on the piece as they had liked my style of writing. The only request they had was to make it memorable. Personally, I often daydream. Multiple times a day, I will find myself lost in inner fantasies and worlds. In this piece, I tried to capture the freeing feeling of this. It is meant to feel hopeful, untethered, and adventurous. Enjoy a whimsical, sleepless dreamland. 

Daydream

The work ‘SUNQUEST’ for wind orchestra was composed in 1996 after a stay in Provence. It reflects the variety of light reflections, the rich colours and the radiant brightness of this region. The composer was deeply impressed by these sensations and began the composition shortly after his arrival in chilly Luxembourg.
The work consists of a single movement, but contains several subtitles: ‘ Sunquest “, ” Sunbeams “ and ” Hymn to he Sun ’.
The work was revised again in October 2003.
www.lucgrethen.com

Sunquest

The ‘ Klosebierg - Marsch ’ is a traditional, simple march, which was written by the composer in 1998 in order to gain further experience with the composition of brass music. The title comes from the composer's local neighbourhood: as he lives in Klosenberg Street, he came up with the idea of giving the march the name of this street.
www.lucgrethen.com

Klosebierg-Marsch

A labyrinth is a complex and intricate structure of interconnected paths or passages, often designed as a maze with a single, winding route leading from the entrance to the center. Unlike a maze, which typically contains multiple routes and dead ends, a classical labyrinth has one clear path, symbolizing a journey or quest for understanding.

When seeking excellence, while there may appear to be many paths and ways to achieve your goals, there is only one path. In this case, the labyrinth is a metaphor for the pursuit of musical excellence—straight and unrelenting. The work was commissioned by the Cario Middle School Band, Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, and their directors, Christian Gordon and Kalyn Todd, for their performance at the South Carolina Band Director’s Association State Conference in February 2026. 

The composition features Phrygian modes (F and D) and G minor, with rhythmic motifs that suggest mixed meters but are played in 4/4 and 3/4. Asymmetric rhythms add mystery and drive, blending intrigue and energy as the piece progresses. This grade 3 piece features the full ensemble and offers optional parts for range development. It requires at least five percussionists, with most playing multiple instruments.

Copyright All Rights Reserved 2025 AFPMusic Suwanee, Georgia
www.andrewpoormusic.com

Through the Labyrinth by Andrew Poor Grade 3

Solemn

Mike is a born & raised Missourian. He grew up in House Springs and went to school in the Northwest R-1 School District graduating in 1988 from Northwest High School. After college (Central Methodist, Fayette MO), The pride and music performances the Marine Corps Bands offered appealed to him. He enlisted in June 1997 then attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California graduating Series Honor Man in August 1997.
He served as euphonium and percussion instrumentalist with the Quantico Marine Band, Albany Marine Band, 1st Marine Division Band and the Commander Naval Forces Europe Band, Naples, Italy. He deployed to Camp Fallujah Iraq with Headquarters Company, Regimental Combat Team 5, I MEF (Fwd) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 05-07, in July 2006. There he assumed duties as Platoon Sergeant & Convoy Commander of Hades Mobile, a multi-purpose security convoy. It was during this deployment he was awarded both combat valor & the Purple Heart Medal
Following redeployment to the states, then training at the School of Music, he became only the 12th Marine Musician to serve with the Navy NATO Band in Naples, Italy. He furthermore deployed as Music Operations Coordinator aboard the Dutch ship HNLMS Johan de Witt (L801), the first non-American platform for Africa Partnership Station. In this capacity, Michael coordinated with embassies of five African nations scheduling & playing in over 40 Rock Band performances, doing several television & radio interviews. Michael also spearheaded several music, conducting & drum majoring workshops with African military and civilian bands and musicians. Gunny began his first Marine Unit assignment as Enlisted Conductor with the 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Band in Cherry Point, North Carolina, in July of 2012. He then finished his career as Enlisted Conductor, performer and Unit Purchasing Officer for the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve Band, New Orleans, Louisiana. His military decorations include the Purple Heart, 5 Navy Achievement Medals with 1 Combat Distinguishing Device and he is most proud of his Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal. Gunnery Sergeant Maschmeier retired honorably from the Marine Corps on 30 June 2017.
This school year marks Mike’s fifth with the Marissa & 14th year in public school teaching. He was at the Westview Middle School Band Director with the Riverview Gardens School District in North St. Louis. His musical training includes receiving a Master of Music degree in Wind Band Conducting, with specialties in composition & brass pedagogy, from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in May 2019. Here he assisted Dr. John Bell in teaching 4 semesters of conducting to undergrads & was the Graduate Assistant for the Wind Ensemble and the University Band. He furthermore taught Low Brass techniques in the absence of the instructor. His Bachelor of Science in Music Education (Euphonium Major) Degree is from Central Methodist College (now University), Swinney Conservatory of Music, Fayette Missouri, graduating in May 1992. His military musical training includes the Unit Leader Course and Senior Musician Course at the Armed Forces School of Music in Norfolk, Virginia. Crash is an active composer and arranger with his company Warrior Musician LLC. He is a Kiss Super-fan and collector, a recumbent cyclist and enjoys woodworking. He holds memberships in the Marine Corps League, the Conductors Guild, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia (Professional Music Fraternity), Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, National Association for Music Education, Missouri Bandmasters Association, Illinois Music Education Association, and is a member of the First United Methodist Church in O’Fallen IL. He is married (34 years) to the former Miss Rebecca Woods of Elsberry, MO and they have three grown children, son in law, daughter in law, two granddaughters, two dogs & an Italian cat (but that's another story).

I'm a music composer based in Virginia, USA with a Bachelor's degree in Music Composition & Theory. I enjoy writing emotive, cinematic pieces, typically with orchestral instruments.

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