Last night I went to Chicago for the last rehearsal before the premiere of “Re-Connected: Three Incomplete Curves” for the 25th Anniversary Concert of the Fox Valley Community Band in Elgin, IL.  Information for the concert is on the flyer below.

They are really coming together on the piece, and I’m really excited about the concert on Saturday.  Putting together a completely new piece, especially one with a lot of contemporary sounds, can be difficult the first time with no reference recordings to really know what the composer wants.  That is why I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to go up and talk with the group several times leading up tot he concert.

About “Re-Connected”:

When I began work on (Re-Connected), I requested information about what the Fox Valley Concert Band meant to its members. I spent time reading and digesting what a number of them had written, and, surprisingly, I soon discovered that a common thread could be found in many of their writings. That thread was “connections”: to many of its members, the band represented a way to connect with the community, connect with each other, and connect with themselves individually as musicians.

 

One particular member shared a story about his musical life: how he had to leave his musical pursuits for various reasons, and how the Fox Valley Concert Band played a role in his return to the music he had loved at an earlier time in his life. He described three musical events from earlier in his life as “three uncompleted curves” that were not fulfilled until he began his membership in the FVCB. Joining this ensemble allowed him to reconnect to his past and find a resolution to the conflicts that had previously prevented his enjoyment of music, leading him to find new experiences and meaning in his music today.

 

(Re-Connected) roughly follows the musical story of this FVCB member. Specific quotes from his story are placed throughout the score at the points they reference musically. Running scalar lines that never resolve to tonic frequently represent the “curves” in his life that have not come together. In contrast, powerful arching brass statements represent this individual’s love of music, even during the times he may have felt it was lost. Because the individual whose story inspired the piece plays the euphonium, this instrument is frequently featured as the focus of solo and melodic material. Only at the end of the piece do you hear the clear resolution to tonic and the release of tension in the solo euphonium, representing the “reconnection” of the individual with his passion for music.

 

The melodic and rhythmic content of the piece also references the band’s celebration of its 25^th anniversary season. Within the piece, 2/4 and 5/4 meters are used to represent the number 25, and, for the same reason, scale degrees 2 (F) and 5 (Bb) in Eb major are melodically prevalent throughout the work.

 

~Craig Andrew Fitzpatrick 2008

 

Listen to a short sample of Re-Connected from the last rehearsal

Ok…time for something non music. Last night I went to my first night game at Wrigley Field. I’ve been to quite a few game, but never a night one. I prefer daytime baseball, but it was a lot of fun to head up last night.

Ok….I can’t say the game turned out the way I would have liked…but it was a pretty exciting game…lots of runs.  Derek Lee hit a home run early on.  This is Lee walking back to the dugout after that homerun.

Either way…the crowd was awesome.  It was a packed house, and I hope the outcome is a little better tonight!

Well….never having done blogs or a journals before, I’m very slow updating this blog.  I’ve been very busy, which doesn’t help.  I’m going to try to make it a little more of a habit.  As I mentioned, I’ve been very busy.  I’ve finished the music for 4 of the 5 competitive marching shows that I have to do this spring.  Very excited about the shows….I’ll have more on those later.  Once all of that is finished I have to start into drill for a number of schools.

I’m excited about the premiere of “Re:Connected: Three Incomplete Curves” which receives its first performance on May 17th in Chicago.  I wrote it for the 25th Anniversary season of the Fox Valley Community Band.  If you might be in the area please come check out the premiere.  I can throw the venue up here if I get some requests for it.

In other news, I just received the official print version of my piece “…with honors…”  It is published by TRN, who has also recently picked up “Shades of Green” for publication as well!  Info on both of these pieces can be found at www.fitzpatrickmusic.net.

Well, there is a quick update….as I said, I hope to make this a little more frequent and regular over time.

Just a quick update.  I just got word that my new piece “Shades of Green” will be published by TRN music publishers!

Shades of Green.mp3

More info to follow!

“A Changed Anthem” was initially started and written in the days following September 11, 2001.  In 2005 it was selected for the NBA Young Composer Mentor Project sponsored by Bands of America. 

Since then the piece has undergone many changes and revisions.  The Illinois State University Wind Symphony directed by Dr. Steve Steele were kind enough to rehearse and record the 2008 revision of the piece.  A recording of this revision can be heard at http://www.fitzpatrickmusic.net/MP3_for_Index/Changed_Anthem2008.mp3

The old version can still be heard on my main site and will remain there for comparison.  Please take a listen and share any thoughts or feels that you have while listening to the piece.  Additionally, questions about the work are always welcome.

PROGRAM NOTE

On September 11, 2001, our nation was forever changed by the tragic terrorist attacks on the world trade center in New York City. Every person was affected or touched by this event in some way. Composition of “A Changed Anthem” began on September 12, the day following those terrible events. The inspiration came after seeing a large group of people come together to sing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” which served as the seed for the entire composition. This anthem is broken into fragments that are eventually put back together as the piece progresses as an illustration of the gathering sense of unity experienced after the attacks. When the familiar theme is heard in its entirety it is “changed,” incorporating a darker sound than one familiar with the tune would expect. This piece is not only about changing a well-known tune; but it is also about how America was forever changed by the events of that day.

 

“A Changed Anthem” is comprised of three sections. These sections loosely depict the events of September 11. The piece begins with a calm, unsuspecting sound. Nothing clues the listener in to where the piece may go next. Then the piece suddenly shifts into a fast, aggressive, and dissonant section depicting the first attack itself. This section goes by quickly and returns to a somber reflective sound. Apprehension is communicated through the soft transparent sounds of the woodwinds and percussion, while the brass depicts the hope of a nation raising to the occasion and pulling itself out the destructive attacks. This is where “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” is heard in its most complete version. The work then slowly fades to a quiet conclusion, depicting a silent optimism. The piece concludes sounding almost unfinished at the end, in an attempt to show that our nation still has much recovery and growth to experience after the events of September 11, 2001.

 

“A Changed Anthem” has undergone several significant revisions since the premiere of the original version in 2005. That is due to more time having passed, and my perceptions of the events of the day changing over this period of time.
 

~Craig Andrew Fitzpatrick  2008

Well…it is spring and it is marching show design season.  2008 Schools

Morton High School, Illinois - Music / Drill 

Beech Grove, Indiana - Music / Drill

United Township, Illinois - Music / Drill

Thibodeaux High School, Louisiana - Music

Blue Springs High School, Missouri - Music

Cypress Ridge, Texas - Drill

Streator High School, Illinois - Drill

It is going to be a busy spring.  I will share more info about all of these programs after directors announce their fall programs to their students.  Until then I must keep that info quiet.

Here is a sample from last year.

(High speed drill timelapse)

(sampling from standstill performance)

This is something new for me.  I’ve never kept a journal, and I find myself wondering (and maybe you) why I’m starting this online blog.  However, after spending some time thinking about the subject, I realized that it really isn’t as strange of an idea as I had originally thought.  It is quite possible that nobody besides myself will ever read anything that I post on this blog.  At the same time, it would be my guess that some of the other composers whose blogs I’ve read thought the exact same thing. 

 So maybe someone will read this, but that isn’t really the main purpose for this blog.  If someone does read these blogs and finds something interesting, that would simply be a bonus to starting this thing.

I’ve met a lot of musicians and a lot of composers.  They’ve all had great insights into music and writing.  One individual that really got me “thinking” was David Maslanka.  He suggested that dreams and images can be a powerful thing, and an important part of the compositional process.  For me dreams and images are often directly related to our experiences in life.  This blog is a venue to record thoughts, experiences, and dreams.  Maybe some of these things will connect to others, but more importantly it allows me to easily go back and meditate on the passage of time, and the events / experiences of life.  Additionally, it opens up a chance for commentary and communication with others.

Why call this blog “finding time”?  As I mentioned, this forum as an opportunity to meditate on the passage of time.  Also, for me the best piece I have written is called “Time”…. this blog is about this journey to find the same satisfaction with another piece I write.  Finally, we often just seem to not have enough time in life to do what we need or would like to.

 I hope anyone who happens across this blog feels free to respond or contact me if they would like to.

Best Wishes,

                                                                             Craig Fitzpatrick