Fanfare, Hymn and Finale

— Premiered by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, Col. Jason K. Fettig, conductor, at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention/Clinic, San Antonio, July 27, 2018
— Performed by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band on its Midwest concert tour, October 2018 (10 performances): North Platte, Nebraska (Oct. 4); Casper, Wyoming (Oct. 7); Glendive, Montana (Oct. 11); Aberdeen, South Dakota (Oct. 14); Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Oct. 16); Cedar Falls, Iowa (Oct. 18); Mahtomedi, Minnesota (Oct. 21); Davenport, Iowa (Oct. 25); Muncie, Indiana (Oct. 28); Severance Hall, Cleveland, Ohio (Oct. 30)
— Performed by the Appalachian Wind Ensemble, John Stanley Ross, conductor, February 15, 2019
— Performed by the Clemson University Symphonic Band, Mark Spede, conductor, March 11, 2019
— Performed by the Pearl City High School Symphonic Winds, Chadwick Kamei, conductor, April 2 & 13, May 2, 2019
— Performed by the Nebraska Music Education Association All-State Band, Ryan Nowlin, conductor, November 23, 2019
— Performed by the Dordt College Concert Band, Onsby Rose, conductor, December 13, 2019
— Performed by the Florida State University Wind Ensemble, Patrick Dunnigan, conductor, February 19, 2020
— Performed by the University of Northern Iowa Wind Ensemble, Danny Galyen, conductor, February 14, 2020 (live performance) and April 28, 2020 (online streamed performance) [five scheduled European tour performances canceled due to the pandemic]
— To be performed by the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble, Gregory Whitmore, conductor, May 11, 2020 [canceled due to the pandemic]
— “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band performance from Severance Hall, Cleveland, broadcast nationally on Performance Today, June 4, 2020

When I received an invitation from Colonel Jason K. Fettig to compose a work for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in celebration of its 220th anniversary, all at once I felt both deeply honored and struck with a certain sense of trepidation. I knew immediately that I would have to undertake the rare opportunity and privilege which this commission represented; but as my compositional work has been primarily for orchestra, with only a single previous attempt at writing for concert band/wind ensemble, I realized that composing music worthy of this most renowned and historic ensemble would be quite a challenging endeavor.

As I contemplated the nature of the music I might compose for the Marine Band, and the milestone represented by its 220th anniversary, I felt that the new piece simply had to open with a celebratory fanfare. I also wanted to include contrasting music which might convey a sense of nobility, and provide the musicians an opportunity for lyrical playing, and thought that composing a hymn-like section could work well for this purpose. Finally, I thought that mixed-meter music of a jubilant, propulsive quality also would be appropriate for the occasion. These varied thoughts led me to the title of Fanfare, Hymn and Finale, which I believe clearly describes the musical content and structure of the work. It is my hope that each of these three sections of this short work may convey something of an “American quality” appropriate for this esteemed, virtuoso ensemble.

I would like to thank Col. Fettig for the unexpected honor of this commission, and all the members of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, both for bringing this new piece to life, and for sharing their great talents with us all.

“Fanfare, Hymn and Finale grabs your attention from its opening bar and never lets it go. This special work is filled with a heroic and noble jubilance that beautifully captures the American spirit.”

— Colonel Jason K. Fettig, Director, “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band