Advanced Band
Horizons Untold (fanfare for wind band)
Horizons Untold perfectly captures the excitement of possibilities unknown! In crafting this brief concert opener, the goal was to create an inspirational piece that resonates with performers and listeners in various ways. Some may envision a journey, gazing optimistically toward the horizon, while others may feel a sense of celebration. Additionally, the composition may evoke a patriotic sentiment in some. Regardless of personal interpretation, the soaring melodies, bold fanfares, and shimmering flourishes of the piece will captivate and energize the audience, setting the stage for an unforgettable concert experience!
Grade 5 | 1:54 | JWPepper Editor’s Choice Award 2023
March to the Scaffold, from Symphony Fantastique
“March to the Scaffold” from Hector Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique is a vivid and dramatic musical piece, masterfully transcribed by Evan VanDoren for the modern wind ensemble. Infused with the tones of unrequited love and despair, the symphony tells the story of a lovelorn musician’s opium-induced visions, culminating in the fourth movement where he dreams of his own execution after murdering his beloved. This movement, emanating both somber and brilliant tones, is a testament to Berlioz’s ability to weave narrative into music, offering a thrilling auditory experience that echoes the tumultuous emotions of a tragic love story.
This work was originally commissioned by Vandegrift HS, from Austin, Texas, and premiered at the Midwest Clinic in Chicago.
Grade 5 | 5:00
Young Band
Battle Volcano
Battle Volcano is an epic soundtrack encapsulating all that might be heard, seen, and felt when volcanoes attack! With driving rhythms, edgy chromaticism, and intensity throughout, it’s my hope that students will embrace the battle of creating music that embodies the epic nature of a battle between volcanoes.
Grade 2.5 | 2:00 | JWPepper Editors’ Choice Award 2023
She Loves the Light
Feature the sound and sonority of your young band with this emotional, lyrical work. Colorful harmonies, flowing lines, unique percussive textures, and clever scoring make She Loves the Light an ideal musical tribute for someone special to your program or community.
The composer writes: “She Loves the Light is conceived for and dedicated to my daughter Anna. As many new parents come to understand, the love felt for your first child at birth is altogether overwhelming, awe-inspiring, terrifying, and more… and something I didn’t even begin to understand until I experienced it for myself. In the many hours spent holding her in the first weeks of her life, Anna was drawn consistently to light. It’s true; many infants are attracted to shiny, bright things as they adjust to the new world around them. But for me, there was something magical about seeing Anna light up when she experienced light catching her eye. This lullaby seeks to capture the wonderment of that moment of light, both what Anna must have felt when experiencing the light, but perhaps more vividly, my sense of awe, love, and hope for the future I continue to feel when I see her light up.”
Note: The title She Loves the Light uses the pronoun “she” to directly refer to the composer’s daughter to whom this piece is dedicated. However, please feel welcome to adjust this pronoun to whichever may best suit your specific purpose when programming this work. Additionally, you may find that this concert band piece may be useful in a variety of programmatic circumstances. The composer welcomes its use for these purposes and more to observe, memorialize, and/or celebrate as you see fit.
Grade 3 | 5:30
Fanfare for a New Day
“Fanfare for a New Day” captures the excitement and exuberance of the new! Highly playable for a younger band, this brief concert opener provides opportunities to explore lyrical melodies, exciting fanfare figures, and sudden dynamic changes in appropriate settings. You will want to program this attention-getter to start your next concert!
Grade 2.5 | 2:00 | JWPepper Editors’ Choice Award 2021
String Orchestra
Adventure Awaits
Adventure Awaits captures the excitement felt at the start of something new! The composer writes: “In writing this piece, I found myself imagining the many stories of long journeys told in books, television, movies, and beyond – some fantastical, and some based in reality. In addition to drawing on these sources of inspiration, I hope performers and audience members alike draw on their own adventurous experiences, recalling those positive feelings at the beginning of exciting personal journeys!”
Grade 3 | 2:00
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