Odometer

Recorded by the University of Texas at Austin Wind Ensemble
Grade: 4-4.5
Duration: 6:30

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Program Note: "Resounding strikes from a lone hammer rang out through the still morning air as Martin Luther nailed a sheet of Ninety-Five Theses to the door of Wittenberg's All Saints' Church. The actions
of this inconspicuous—but bold—visionary ignited the fervent, turbulent period we know as the Reformation. As more vocal leaders and numerous supporters joined Luther's cause, one tune, known as the "Battle Hymn of the Reformation," united the reformers and carried the
movement throughout Germany.

Committed to the idea that each's individual's voice could create a harmonious whole through communal singing, Luther composed "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" to embrace the diversity of the
people's voices. Therefore, this chorale could take various forms for many purposes, whether celebrating collective successes, promoting unity through collective worship, or standing strong in the face of overwhelming opposition. Reformation Variations seeks to explore the diverse tone and character that this versatile song could exhibit as it is followed through Reformation history.

To this day, Luther's music endures vivaciously as the spirit of the Reformation has. "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott" may be heard in the hall's of cathedrals worldwide, in the works of composers like J.S. Bach, Mendelssohn, and Debussy—indeed, even in this very concert hall. What we are about to take part in together is not a beginning nor an end, but a continuation—one more voice united in chorale, flowing ever wider from Luther to today and on to the future."

Reformation Variations for Wind Ensemble (University of Texas Wind Ensemble)

Some composers found their love of music at the symphony hearing Brahms or Beethoven—Thomas discovered his from the 8-bit beeps and boops of the family Super Nintendo. Though his musical adventures have since broadened from slaying virtual dragons, he has carried the music's power of narrative with him ever since. Whether exploring what outer space might sound like, depicting the Hero's Journey with the colors of the orchestra, or fighting against genocide with the song of the mythological Leviathan, Thomas strives to connect with listeners' hearts through musical storytelling. In addition to composing, he reads and listens to analytic philosophy (often at the same time!) and can frequently be found cooking restaurant-worthy cuisine with his wife Tori. He dreams of collecting all the world's pens that have unconventional features—though he frequently has to start from square one when they fall out of his pockets.

Reformation Variations for Wind Ensemble (University of Texas Wind Ensemble)

Thomas B. Yee

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