Aptly named for the small fish bearing silver streaks along either side of its body, the submarine USS Silversides (SS-236) was commissioned a mere eight days after the attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7 1941.  Silversides would enjoy a highly successful 5-year tenure, sinking 23 enemy ships.  After 14 missions, Silversides was decommissioned in 1946 and subsequently entered service as a Naval training vessel near Chicago.  
The vessel would eventually find its way to Muskegon, Michigan, where she now holds a prominent position in the Great Lakes Naval Memorial.

A slow, mysterious opening statement sets the tone for the venerable submarine submerging to embark on her perilous assignment.  The tempo suddenly becomes fast as Silversides stealthily glides through the dark, murky waters.  The music becomes increasingly intense as the vessel steadily moves forward, culminating in the inevitable conflict.  After the boisterous “battle sequence”, the mood is jubilant and brisk in tempo with the music coming to an exciting finish.

Silversides

After The Darkness...is a highly emotional work dedicated to the victims and first-responders of the deadly mass-shooting at Santa Fe (TX) High School; 18 May 2018

Music for Concert Band 2024-2025

After the Darkness...

Based on the hymn, "Praise to the Lord, the Almighty."

All Things So Wondrous - William Owens

Gratitude - William Owens

For beginning/developing musicians, a whimsical setting of two popular seasonal favorites; "Jingle Bells" and "Up on the Housetop"

Jolly Jingle Joyride - William Owens

Based on two traditional Iroquois folk songs.

San-Too-Chee - William Owens

Paintings 3

Paintings 4

Paintings 5

Commissioned by the Santa Fe (TX) High School Band; Matthew Seifert, Director

Loosely based on the 19th century hymn “Maitland”, this powerful work celebrates the 10 precious lives taken by violence in 2018 at the campus of Santa Fe (TX) High School.  Written in two segments, the first (Bereavement) depicts the shock and sorrow of the moment while the second segment (Resilience) reflects reassurance and peace for the future.

William Owens 10

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