Fanfare for Athena was commissioned by Chris Shumick and the Milton High School Wind Ensemble (GA). In writing a piece for the opening of their performance at the 2020 Georgia Music Educators Conference in Athens, it was decided early on that the piece would reflect the Greek goddess Athena and the statue that stands in her image outside of the Classics Center. In researching Athena, I found the contrasts of her qualities to be rather intriguing- a goddess of war and courage, and yet also a goddess of wisdom and inspiration. War and courage manifest themselves at the beginning of the work in bold and declarative statements. The middle of the work uses similar melodic material from the beginning, but woven in contemporary flourishes from the woodwinds to portray her wisdom and courage. The two styles weave themselves together as the piece concludes to create a more wholistic image of this goddess
and all she represents in Greek mythology.

Fanfare for Athena (grade 4) for concert band

Downtown Strut (grade 1)  for 3-part flex band & electronics

HOPE RISING by Tyler S. Grant
Instrumentation: Concert Band
Difficulty: Grade 1
Publisher: Tyler S. Grant Music Works, LLC
Publisher ID: TSG-B022

Recorded by the Atlanta Wind Symphony (Atlanta, GA). 
Dr. David Kehler, conductor
Tyler Ehrlich & Chris Shumick, associate conductors 

Website: www.tylersgrant.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tylersgrant
Contact: www.tylersgrant.com/contact

ABOUT THIS PIECE:
Given all that our world has experienced in the past several years, it is safe to say that we all find hope from different places. It’s essential to our very existence and carries us through the times most difficult and hard to explain. Personally, I have found my students to be the strongest source of hope over recent years. Watching them respond to and continue to deal with the effects of a global pandemic continue to amaze and inspire me to get up each day and go to work. As we have inched our way closer to a normal we once knew, I can’t help but feel the hope for a brighter tomorrow rises with each passing day. Hope Rising was not written for any specific person or group, but is meant to allow performers and audiences to reflect on anything that gives them hope.

"Hope Rising" (concert band, grade 1) Atlanta Wind Symphony recording

SWEET DREAMS by Tyler S. Grant
Instrumentation: Concert Band
Difficulty: Grade 2.5
Publisher: Tyler S. Grant Music Works, LLC
Publisher ID: TSG-B020

Recorded by the Atlanta Wind Symphony (Atlanta, GA). 
Dr. David Kehler, conductor
Tyler Ehrlich & Chris Shumick, associate conductors 

Website: www.tylersgrant.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tylersgrant
Contact: www.tylersgrant.com/contact

SWEET DREAMS (Concert Band, Grade 2.5) recorded by Atlanta Wind Symphony

"Tale of the Sword" recorded by Atlanta Wind Symphony (Concert Band, grade 2)

"Prevailing Fire" recorded by the Atlanta Wind Symphony (concert band, grade 2)

Performed by the Kennesaw State University Wind Ensemble. Dr. David Kehler, conductor

THE SACRED SPHERES (Mvt. 1 - "From Harmony")

THE SACRED SPHERES (Mvt. 2 - "Cries, hark the foe comes")

PACIFIC GROOVES for concert band | Grade 4

ZERO TO SIXTY for concert band | Grade 1.5

LEADING STAR (Fanfare) for concert band | Grade 4

NOW & FOREVER (Concert March) for concert band | Grade 2

FANFARE FOR THE GOLD for concert band | grade 2

Take a heart-pounding adventure into the minds of two base jumpers, who set a world record before safely landing on the ground. Fantastic musical imagery sets the mood for each section as the piece unfolds, keeping your audience on the edge of their seats. A stellar new work!

Terminal Velocity

This highly programmatic work tells the story of buccaneer naval warfare and the ghosts that linger to this day, haunting the seas and all who pass through them. After an evocative opening featuring numerous rattles, the music becomes aggressive and relentless as it portrays the credo-driven pirates and their attacks during the height of their power. Intense and extremely engaging!

Ghosts of the Lost Ship

The peaceful melodies of this beautiful lyrical work are an ideal way to showcase the musicality of your developing ensemble. Extremely modest ranges allow directors to focus on line, tone and musical maturity. Beautiful music that will move your audience deeply.

At Twilight (gr. 1) for concert band

Written for and performed by the 2011 Macy's Great American Marching Band in the 2011 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!

Imagine Fanfare: A Herald Square Celebration

A NEW LIGHT by Tyler S. Grant (Grade 1.5)

	“We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard” - President John F. Kennedy (September 12, 1962)

One of the highlights of the 1960’s was the legendary “space-race” between the United States and the Soviet Union. From the moment that Kennedy gave his legendary “We choose the moon...” speech, these two countries would seek to be the first ones to set foot on the moon. The piece Mission: Apollo seeks to capture the adventure and excitement of the historic Apollo 11 mission. The opening section depicts the early morning of July 16, 1969 as the astronauts climbed the 350-foot Saturn V rocket for launch. The main-theme of the work is based on an altered-scale to add a hint of uncertainty (designed to symbolize the unknown dangers that face the astronauts in the coming days). The music builds as the rockets ignite and the astronauts start their rapid ascent into space. The tempo quickly picks up as the spacecraft hurls towards the moon at a speed of 3,000+ feet per second. The music then introduces new melodic motifs that portray “the view from the window” as the astronauts experience a new-found prospective of our galaxy that very few get to see. The piece then slows down as the lunar-module (LEM) breaks away from the command-module and astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin make the difficult maneuvers necessary to safely land on the moon. Armstrong opens the capsule, climbs down the ladder, and takes the first step onto the powdery lunar surface as he makes the famous “one small step...” declaration. With limited power and oxygen, the astronauts quickly leave having only spent two and-a-half hours on the moon’s surface. The music picks up speed as the spacecraft hurls back to earth and prepares for re-entry. As the command module enters the earth’s atmosphere, the small melodic fragments from before are re-introduced to create an energetic conclusion to this successful mission!


Mission: Apollo (gr. 2.5) for concert band

   Commissioned in honor of a band’s 75th anniversary, Epic Venture is a vibrant and colorful fanfare for young bands. While primarily based around a single melodic idea, the textures consistently change and grow in complexity. Beginning with a declarative fanfare, this work takes the listener on a musical journey across the Atlantic Ocean along with the early European settlers on their way to North America. The middle section introduces a new melodic idea while also reflecting on the material from before. The work gradually builds to the climactic ending that combines melodic fragments from the beginning and middle sections in an attempt to celebrate the settler’s long voyage to their new land!


Epic Venture (gr. 2) for concert band

Celebratory in nature, Panoramic Fanfare is a bright concert-opener that seeks to capture the awe and majesty that exists in a panoramic audio soundscape. Performed in the balconies of the historic Meyerson Symphony Center (Dallas, TX), this work does an excellent job of balancing bold and declarative lines with flowing and lyrical passages. Panoramic Fanfare was recently named a winning composition in the 2014 Dallas Wind Symphony “Call for Fanfares” Competition and was performed by members of the Dallas Wind Symphony and Greater Dallas Youth Orchestra on January 27, 2015 under the direction of Nicholas Williams

Panoramic Fanfare for brass & percussion

    Every artist, whether young or experienced, strives for excellence in hopes of gaining the attention and respect of audiences both close to home and abroad. Those who are still maturing their voice pour lots of time, energy, and passion into their craft while waiting for that one opportunity, or person, that ultimately allows their voice to be heard. As someone who finds myself in this position regularly, I have felt both ends of the spectrum: struggling to find my voice in this world of many talented composers, and a strong sense-of-self after a rewarding experience or performance. Such can also be said for music ensembles across the world who pour the same time, energy, and passion into their rehearsals in hopes to one day “wow” audiences locally and abroad. It was in this same spirit that the work ‘Miles’ in the Sky was commissioned- for the first-ever middle school band from Alabama selected to perform at The Midwest Clinic. 

    The title, ‘Miles’ in the Sky, comes from the three main sources of inspiration for the piece- the first of which refers to the feeling of euphoria that one experiences when their hard work is recognized by notable figures in their field. The second meaning refers to the fact that, while writing this piece, I was at the peak of my travel season- flying to work with bands in various parts of the country and finding great inspiration while at a cruising altitude of several-thousand feet. The last (and most significant) meaning refers to the name of a former principal of the commissioning school whom has supported the bands in their pursuit of excellence for over 20 years. Whether it was through attending band concerts, chaperoning field-trips, providing financial resources, or just a quick word of encouragement, his passion for the arts manifested itself in the level of success that the ensembles have achieved under his administrative leadership.

'Miles' in the Sky (gr. 3) for concert band

	More often than not, the circumstances of life seem to happen when we least expect; at least, that’s the way it felt upon the genesis of Resplendent Light. Commissioned by a school in Concord, Massachusetts, it was suggested to me to use Henry David Thoreau’s Walden as a source of inspiration for this serene and introspective work. Anyone who has read Walden knows that one of the prominent overarching tones is “reflection”. I had just sketched the first few melodic ideas for the work when I received word that my grandfather had passed away after a long battle with heart disease. Upon the death of a loved-one, one can’t help but become immersed in self-reflection- reflecting of one’s own life and the lives of those around them. Much like the way Thoreau chose to distance himself from the rest of the world in order to reflect, I spent several weeks blocking out the noise of our perpetually loud world to focus on these reflective thoughts. 
	Upon returning to work on the piece, I began to notice parallels between the concepts in Thoreau’s text and the way my grandfather lived most of his life. While he did not share Thoreau’s viewpoint of transcendentalism, he was a simple man who lived most of his life on a farm in West Virginia. Seldom would he allow the “noise” of the outside world to pollute his life. He was self-reliant and taught his children to be the same. In many ways, this work became a tribute to his life and how, even though he is no longer here, his legacy still shines through those he knew. 
	The title derives from the tenth chapter of Walden. In his somewhat-borrowed description of the “resplendent light” at sunset, it accurately portrays the many evenings that I spent on the West Virginia farm that holds a significant place in my childhood. 

Resplendent Light was commissioned by the Concord Middle School Bands of Concord, Massachusetts and is dedicated to the memory of my grandfather, Robert Tabler Grant (1936-2015). My deepest thanks to directors Paul Halpainy and Christopher Noce for making this piece possible. 

Resplendent Light (gr. 3) for concert band

From the Concord Chronicles (The Shot Heard Round the World)

performed by the GA Wind Symphony at the 2017 GMEA In-Service Conference (Athens, GA). David Gregory, conductor

Tyler S. Grant's Album

Panoramic Landscapes (gr. 4) for concert band

In the world of road cycling, a paceline is one of the most foundational forms of group riding. It provides a unique social experience as the riders travel for long distances under intense conditions while collectively pushing through the wind in an effort to promote acceleration.

        Paceline is a 4-minute show piece designed to feature the virtuosic range and skills of a trombone soloist while accompanied by developing musicians in a scholastic ensemble. The opening of the work is a “warm-up” of sorts - introducing basic rhythms and ideas which are tossed back-and-forth between the band and soloist. As the piece develops, the rhythms and melodic motives become more complex while also settling into a steady groove that propels the soloist and ensemble forward. Sudden bursts from the ensemble represent the shifting of gears as the road becomes unsettling through many inclines, bends, and other obstacles. In short, the work encompasses the physical challenges of riding the paceline while also portraying the euphoria and thrill that comes from this intense activity. 

Paceline was commissioned by Jon Whitaker and a consortium of bands from all over the United States.

'Paceline' (gr. 3) for solo trombone and band - MIDI

Published by The FJH Music Company, Inc., 2018. 
Commissioned by the Mount View Middle School Band (Maryland). 
Grade 3

'Shimmering Joy' (gr. 3) for concert band

Performed by Ken Ozzello and the University of Alabama Wind Ensemble (Jon Whitaker, trombonist).

'Paceline' performed by Jon Whitaker and the UA Wind Ensemble

'Paceline' performed by Aarie VandeWaa and the U of South Alabama Symphonic Band

'River Poem' (gr. 2) for concert band

A Glimpse of Winter (gr. 2) string orchestra

Tyler S. Grant has written numerous award-winning works for concert bands, marching bands and chamber groups; many of which have been performed across the world and by musicians of all levels. His wind band music is regularly found on Editor’s Choice List’s from various international music distributors in addition to being performed by various district and state-wide honor bands.  He regularly accepts commissions for new works and produces new publications for bands and chamber groups each year. Notable performance venues of his work include: The Midwest Clinic, The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Carnegie Hall, and numerous state-wide, national, and international music conventions. In addition, Tyler regularly serves as guest conductor/clinician for school districts and honor bands at the elementary, junior-high, and high-school levels. His rehearsal style has been described as “engaging and energetic, sprinkled with humor and the occasional life lesson”. Tyler has contributed numerous interviews to articles in School Band & Orchestra Magazine, The Instrumentalist Magazine, and recently was a contributing author in Alfred Music Publishing Company’s Sound Innovations: Ensemble Development series.

     Tyler is currently pursuing his Bachelor's Degree in Music at the University of Alabama. He holds membership in the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME).

Tyler S. Grant

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