Program Notes

Feierlicher Einzug (1909)

Feierlicher Einzug (“Festival Procession”) was written by Richard Strauss in 1909. The occasion was an investiture ceremony for the Knights of St. John, a fraternal organization with roots going back as far as the 11th century. Today, offshoots of this venerable order still exist, doing charitable works—primarily in aiding the poor and the sick—around the world.

The original scoring of this piece included parts for 15 trumpets, four horns, four trombones, two tubas, and timpani. Strauss later scored the work for a full orchestra, including organ and optional chorus. An arrangement by Max Reger (1873–1916) for organ, two trombones, and timpani is still frequently performed today.

—Program note from publisher

The Fly (2013)

The Fly is a musical invention for symphonic wind band, conceived to emulate the sound produced when a fly travels across the different sections of the band. The music begins in the calmest manner, awakening the listener from a peaceful dream, and throughout the duration of the piece their mood will change into a state of wrath caused by the tediousness of this fly. We will be able to hear the “buzzing” sounds appearing throughout the different sections of the ensemble and creating a stereo effect. Later, after we have been awakened by the fly, the “ hunt” begins while the playful fly glides through each one of the sections of the ensemble searching for a target. The fly will then attempt to approach its victim with so much force that it will crash onto the floor. Disoriented, the fly will stumble around for a few seconds before regaining control. It will finally come to pose on the conductor’s nose, who, after screaming desperately, will try to hit the fly over and over until it is finally taken down with the help of the whole band.

—Program note from composer

Jaded Adoration (2023)

Jaded Adoration creates a sonic environment of tension, decay, and renewal—burnout with perseverance—loss of inspiration with unwavering ambition—discovering purpose or recreating it?

This tone poem for wind ensemble hopes to rediscover a love for creative output in the midst of a numbness to creation—a fight between passion and paralysis. As the piece evolves, so does its complexity. The creation of creativity itself challenges each musical motion.

—Program note by composer

Early Light (1995)

Originally written for the Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Early Light premiered in July 1995. The material is largely derived from the Star Spangled Banner. One need not attribute an excess of patriotic fervor in the composer as a source for this optimistic homage to our national anthem; Carolyn Bremer, a passionate baseball fan since childhood, drew upon her feelings of happy anticipation at hearing the anthem played before ball games when writing her piece. The slapstick heard near the end echoes the crack of the bat on a long home run.

—Program note from publisher

The Rusty Bucket (2015)

This lively work is an Americana piece in the style of a reel. Effectively conveying the fun and playfulness of the old-time, acoustic-based dance music found in juke joints in the southeastern United States during the mid- to late-1800s, this spirited piece is expertly scored with somewhat challenging 16th-note melodic material for clarinet, flute, alto saxophone, solo euphonium, and solo trumpet (and spoons).

—Program note from The Instrumentalist