S25 Vermont Wind Ensemble

Exultation - Philip Sparke
YouTube Audio (first performance, Musée d'Art Harmonie, Japan, June 6, 2009)           YouTube video (Texas Tech Concert Band - the full concert, but it's the first piece)

Exultation was commissioned by the Japanese concert band, Musée d'Art Harmonie to celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2009. The piece is a short and energetic concert opener that is almost palindromic in form and begins in fanfare style, juxtaposing 3/4 and 6/8 rhythms…. This introduces the main theme that has a ‘blues’ tinge. After a short bridge passage, a second theme appears that is taken up by the whole ensemble and leads to a central more lyrical theme, appearing first on trumpet and then in woodwinds. The staccato second then reappears, leads back to the ‘blues’ melody, and reintroduces the opening fanfare to bring the work to a close. - Philip Sparke

Fiesta del Pacifico is held in San Diego each summer and features a play on the history of the area, a parade, a rodeo, and street dances. It is one of several festivals held annually in various communities in California which celebrate the old Spanish days of the state, and I chose its name as representative of the spirit of these occasions. The music embodies a good deal of imagery related to these festivals, and in a sense the work might be considered a tonal fresco. The concept is similar to that of the tone poem, or that of the music drama, in that some of the musical ideas have extra-musical connotations. It is impressionistic in that the aim is to create descriptive impressions rather than to tell a story. - Roger Nixon

Stillwater - Kelijah Dunton
YouTube video (Brooklyn Wind Symphony) YouTube video (Cal State Fullerton Symphonic Winds)

Inspired by the beauty of a small town, Stillwater Minnesota. This town has a big lake in its center, and out of everyone’s backyard it could be seen. During the winter, the very top of the lake freezes and creates this tranquil effect that could not be seen, but heard. When stepping out into your backyard, you’d see this frozen mass, stuck into place and completely unmovable, but if you listened closely, you could hear that the water underneath continued to flow.

We as people forget sometimes that we are so much more deep and vast beneath our hard surfaces. We work, we go to school, we take care of our families, we deal with the struggles of the day-to-day routine militantly. But if we just take a moment to listen within ourselves; we discover our passions, our longings, and our sense of belongings. - Kelijah Dunton

Over the Crescent Moon - Hiroki Takahashi
YouTube audio (Osaka Philharmonic Winds) YouTube video (MITA WInd Orchestra, Japan - if you prefer video to audio....)

Over the Crescent Moon is in the key of c minor but has a positive spirit rather than the melancholy often associated with music in a minor key. Because the name of the group I wrote this for means "night musicians", I selected a lunar image. After an opening three-part section (fanfare in 6/8 time, short lyrical section in 4/4 time, and a return to the fanfare), a very dissonant bridge settles into the key of C Major. When this section's warm, chorale style concludes, the fanfare motif of the first half returns, followed by both melodies being heard together as the piece moves towards a grand conclusion. - Hiroki Takahasi

By Loch and Mountain is a journey to the land of castles in the highland of Ireland. The opening features a lyrical euphonium solo based on the traditional Irish folk song "I Know Where I'm Going". After the lyric opening, the piece goes on to paint a scene recreated by the composer from a trip to the British Isles - an energetic highland celebration that evokes images of Gaelic dancers whirling in a display of exuberance and joy.

Persis (Greek for Persia) is a fantasy overture, which tells the story of a modern-day American man who travels back through time to the ancient Persian city of Persepolis. He begins a wild and wonderful adventure as he is suddenly surrounded by magnificent architecture, grand marble statues, and beautiful works of art in one of the earliest known cultured civilizations. Then, he turns and sees a beautiful Persian woman in a flower-laden courtyard. She is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen in his life, and he is completely captivated by her. He carefully approaches her, and miraculously, she recognizes him as someone she had known before in another place and time. They embrace and share a brief, blissful moment together. But his presence in the royal courtyard is forbidden and he finds himself being chased by armed warriors. As he runs frantically through the corridors of the city, he reflects sadly on the romance that might have been. This piece is dedicated to my wonderful wife, Melody Ghaffari-Hosay. - James Hosay

Vermont Wind Ensemble - Spring '25