Symphonic Band Compositions

Song For Lyndsay

Undertow by John Mackey is an original piece he wrote containing mixed meters back and forth between 7/8 and 4/4. The Piece was premiered May 13, 2008. This recording was played by the Hill Country Middle School Band.  I own no rights to this song. 

Undertow by John Mackey

Longing for Symphonic Band, as performed by the University of Georgia Symphonic Band, Mr. Curran Prendergrast conducting. 

LONGING - University of Georgia Symphonic Band

Now Is The Time (A Song of Hope) was written in the Fall of 2013 in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of civil rights leader Martin Luther King’s famous ‘I Have A Dream’ speech given on August 28th 1963. The work is a tribute to Dr. King’s life and his work as well as the many other civil rights activists that fought so courageously for equality and an end to racial injustice in the 1950’s and 60’s. But overall this piece is a musical portrayal of the pursuit of freedom and equality that many in our country still dream of.

            In his speech Dr. King asks for the United States to hold true to it’s founding doctrines of equality for all men and women, and freedom from oppression. The piece begins with a clarinet solo, so simple and pure. It represents the basic ideals of our founding fathers and the American dream. So as our country began with these ideals the piece starts with this motive and it appears throughout the work as the dream Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of was the in all actuality, the American dream.  

            The first theme heard initially in the clarinet develops and blossoms into a hymn-like setting with the low winds and strings. Expressive solos from trumpet and again clarinet weave around the chorale texture, and as the chorale decays the flutes echo the theme. The next section introduces a new theme, foreshadowed by the trumpet solo earlier in the piece. This theme is humbly stated by the oboe and bassoon, then again by the brass. We now enter a lush dreamy soundscape that accompanies the solo English horn. The music becomes nobler and with the entrance of the snare drum signals the march on Washington that happened earlier that day. Out of the dream marches the reality of the civil rights movement implementing Dr. King’s dream and demanding the rights guaranteed to all men and women by the constitution. After the bold climax the piece slowly winds down, gradually fading off to the distance revisiting the dream-like textures from earlier in the piece. The song ‘We Shall Overcome’, which was in a way the anthem of the civil rights movement, is played briefly by the solo clarinet. The percussion and strings create a shimmering layer of tremolos and arpeggios while the brass states the second theme in broad strokes over musical canvas created by the shimmering layer. The timpani restates the martial drumbeat of the snare drum earlier, signifying that the movement for equality still marches on into the present day as our country and the rest of the world continue to address the issue of equality, human rights and discrimination. 

Recorded by the George Mason University Orchestra; Dr. Dennis Leyendecker conducting

NOW IS THE TIME (A SONG OF HOPE) for Orchestra

Dr. Jason Worzbyt conducting, recorded by the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Symphony Band - Bruce Leek, recording engineer 

UP - for Symphonic Band

More info + free PDF score: http://stevenbryant.com/dusk.php

Dusk (Band version)

PROGRAM NOTE and SCORE: http://www.stevenbryant.com/suitedreams.php

Suite Dreams

Fanfare for Full Fathom Five
by John Mackey
performed by the Columbus State University Wind Ensemble, conducted by Jamie L. Nix
scored for 6 trumpets, 6 horns, 3 tenor trombones, 2 bass trombones, contrabass trombone, 2 tubas, and 4 percussionists

Full score and program note here: http://ostimusic.com/FullFathom.php

John Mackey: Fanfare For Full Fathom Five

Angels in the Architecture, as performed by the University of North Texas Wind Symphony.



Angels in the Architecture - Frank Ticheli

Baylor University's live performance at the 2012 TMEA (Texas Music Educator's Association Convention).

Free PDF score and more info: http://www.stevenbryant.com/concertoforwindensemble.php

Concerto for Wind Ensemble, Mvt. V (Baylor)

Vesuvius - Frank Ticheli

 "An American Elegy is, above all, an expression of hope. It was composed in memory of those who lost their lives at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999, and to honor the survivors. It is offered as a tribute to their great strength and courage in the face of a terrible tragedy. I hope the work can also serve as one reminder of how fragile and precious life is and how intimately connected we all are as human beings. I was moved and honored by this commission invitation, and deeply inspired by the circumstances surrounding it. Rarely has a work revealed itself to me with such powerful speed and clarity. The first eight bars of the main melody came to me fully formed in a dream. Virtually every element of the work was discovered within the span of about two weeks. The remainder of my time was spent refining, developing, and orchestrating. The work begins at the bottom of the ensemble's register, and ascends gradually to a heartfelt cry of hope. The main theme that follows, stated by the horns, reveals a more lyrical, serene side of the piece. A second theme, based on a simple repeated harmonic pattern, suggests yet another, more poignant mood. These three moods - hope, serenity, and sadness - become intertwined throughout the work, defining its complex expressive character. A four-part canon builds to a climactic quotation of the Columbine Alma Mater. The music recedes, and an offstage trumpeter is heard, suggesting a celestial voice - a heavenly message. The full ensemble returns with a final, exalted statement of the main theme. Ensemble instrumentation: 4 Flute 1, 4 Flute 2, 1 Oboe 1, 1 Oboe 2, 4 Bb Clarinet 1, 4 Bb Clarinet 2, 4 Bb Clarinet 3, 3 Bb Bass Clarinet, 1 Eb Contrabass Clarinet, 1 Bb Contrabass Clarinet, 1 Bassoon 1, 1 Bassoon 2, 3 Eb Alto Saxophone 1, 3 Eb Alto Saxophone 2, 2 Bb Tenor Saxophone, 1 Eb Baritone Saxophone, 3 Bb Trumpet 1, 3 Bb Trumpet 2, 3 Bb Trumpet 3, 2 F Horn 1, 2 F Horn 2, 2 Trombone 1, 2 Trombone 2, 2 Trombone 3, 3 Euphonium B.C., 2 Euphonium T.C., 4 Tuba, 1 String Bass, 2 Timpani, 3 Percussion 1, 3 Percussion 2."

- Frank Ticheli

This recording is performed by North Texas Wind Symphony under the Direction of Eugene Migliaro Corporon.

~DISCLAIMER~
I do not own this song at all. I have performed it once, but I do NOT own it at all, despite the stupid license thing this site made me use. I am not, have not, and will not claim any ownership of this song or audio file whatsoever.

An American Elegy

The new symphony orchestra version of my piece, Bloom. More info, including PDF score and instrumentation: http://www.stevenbryant.com/bloom-orchestra.php

Detroit Symphony Civic Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, Ken Thompson, conductor.

Bloom (Orchestra version)

Aiming to fortify the unequivocal bond between music and emotion.

Symphonic Band Compositions

TheChand13r