Well, I’ve not been on here for what seems like ages.  The past several months have been incredibly busy.  I’ve had tons of shows to write, and now I have 5 more drills to write before camps start.

Here is a drill I just finished writing.  It is to music that I wrote for United Township high school in Illinois.

Well….the Morton High School band has been having some strange happenings going on that seem to connect to their show based on the book “Brave New World”.  Immediately after the rehearsal where they performed the entire show for the first time, some kids went to eat and saw this.  Remember, the show is “A.F. 632: Brave New World”

And just for your viewing…here is the Morton High School Marching performing part 1 of their show at camp at Northern Illinois University.

Well, it been has a couple of busy months.  Fortunately, I’ve finished all of the marching band shows I was writing with just a little bit of time to spare.  Groups are currently learning the music and drill now.

I’m going to stat posting links to videos of shows that I have been writing.  Feel free to let me know what you think.

Morton High School

A.F. 632: Brave New World

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

I also have a video of the premiere performance of “Re-Conneted” online now.

Saturday night was the premiere of my new piece “(Re-Connected): Three Incomplete Curves”  I was commissioned to write the work on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary Season of the Fox Valley Concert Band in Elgin, Illinois.

Here is a look at the program for the night.

I have to say that it was an excellent concert from top to bottom.  I personally really enjoyed the variety of music presented on the concert.

Prior to the premiere of “(Re-Connected)” Colin Holman gave a brief talk about the commission process and the piece itself.  You can listen this by following the following Link: (Re-Connected): Comments by Colin Holman

Colin Holman, Director of the Fox Valley Concert Band and Myself

To listen to the premiere performance follow this link: (Re-Connected) Premiere Perfomance

They did a great job putting the piece together.  As you listen…..yes, that is a reference to “Irish Tune”.  The individual whose story I based much of the work off of referred to a performance of “Irish Tune” as being a very important musical moment in his life.  Notes about this and other experiences can be found in the score.  You can take a look at the score here: Score to (Re-Connected) *Not Printable 

The entire process of working with Colin and the Fox Valley Band was an excellent one from start to finish, and I’m just glad I got the opportunity to be part of their 25th Anniversary Concert.  If any member of the band happens to come across this blog, thank you so much for your hard work!

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

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)