SKU: PR.41641542L

UPC: 680160632329.

Echoes of Silence was commissioned by the Albany Symphony Orchestra for the American Music Festival of 2012 as part of the Capitol Region Heritage Commissions project. The work takes as its inspirations the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall in Albany, NY, and the Albany Symphony Orchestra. The Troy Savings Bank was founded in 1823 and was one of the more important music halls in early-twentieth-century America. It was honored with performances by many world-renowned artists, such as Vladimir Horowitz, Yehudi Menuhin, and Arthur Rubinstein. The title, Echoes of Silence, refers to the echoes of these and other artists' great performances, which one might imagine still resonate in the hall. If the hall had a voice, it would also sing of the all the wonderful masterpieces that were performed there in the past. The main idea of this piece is to reflect the sounds that were absorbed by the walls of this concert hall during the past century of live performance. Some of the main pitch materials are derived from Alexander Borodin's Symphony No. 2, a masterpiece that was composed in 1823, the same year as the founding of the Troy Savings Bank. The main thematic materials of Echoes of Silence are developed from many small musical motifs found in Borodin's symphony. Another source of material is Igor Stravinsky's Symphony of Psalms, composed in 1930, the year in which the Albany Symphony Orchestra was founded. These borrowed materials are used as the main elements in maintaining the structural unity of Echoes of Silence. Because this concert hall has absorbed so much wonderful music from so many great performances, we can imagine even the smallest corner of the hall filling its silence with echoes.

SKU: GI.G-9199

ISBN 9781622772087. English.

A summary of the practice of music advocacy, this book compiles research and thirty years’ experience of one of the nation’s most successful advocates for music education. It gives music educators, administrators, school board members, and community advocates step-by-step procedures for saving and building school music programs. John L. Benham has been in music education for over forty years and has worked as an advocacy consultant saving and building music programs for thirty years. His advocacy work and the methods presented in this book have saved $70 million in proposed music cuts, equivalent to approximately 2,000 teaching positions and 500,000 music students. Read what people have to say about Music Advocacy: Moving from Survival to Vision: Finally—a how to book for music education in our own districts! John L. Benham provides us with ‘the right stuff’ as well as rules to ensure that programs stay intact and keep complacency at bay. This must-have resource helps us understand educational processes and how budget decisions are made. It also provides suggestions on how to involve all constituents in the process of advocacy by guaranteeing that the best interest of the students remains the basis for all decision making. Music programs can be saved even when cuts appear to be imminent, and Music Advocacy: Moving from Survival to Vision provides effective, proactive strategies not only to avoid these cuts but also to establish a long-term plan for continued development. —Marcia M. Neel, president, Music Education Consultants, Inc.   John Benham is a rare individual who walks his talk with a sense of mission unknown in common hours, and every person connected with arts education is the beneficiary of his immeasurable commitment and dedication. Once again he has come to the forefront of the profession by sharing his profound knowledge and wisdom. Simply put, this book represents a tried-and-true blueprint of success. It is a priceless gift to the future of our educational landscape and a reflective tribute to the visionary contribution of an author of purpose. —Tim Lautzenheiser, Attitude Concepts for Today, Inc.   Benham’s new book is a must-have for every music department at both the K–12 and collegiate levels. His theory of reverse economics along with his guidance have saved music education experiences for thousands of students as well as many careers. This book provides information on scheduling issues as well as a clear explanation of his reverse economics theory. It gives a step-by-step outline on how to handle threats to music programs. The book is a wealth of information and is highly recommended. —Mary Wagner, chair, Fairfax Arts Coalition for Education, and National ASTA past president   As a music retailer who has worked closely with John L. Benham for over ten years, I appreciate his discovery of reverse economics. It is brilliantly simple and proves the financial efficacy of a healthy music department! Every instrument retailer needs to share this vital resource with all of their school customers. This is the manual that every music department needs to fully support their program. The information needs to be shared with your school board every year.  —Doug Schmitt, vice president of music education, Schmitt Music Stores.

SKU: RM.SAVI03517

ISBN 9790231035179.