Elegy for a Firefighter

SKU: CF.SPS87F

ISBN 9781491156452. UPC: 680160914999. 9 x 12 inches.

About the Work In the spring of 2008 a large number of wildfires plagued the west coast, including the area where my wife and I lived in northern California. Firefighters all along the West Coast worked overtime in what seemed like an endless battle to protect residents and their homes. After hearing of a number of firefighters who had lost their lives in the struggle, I composed this work as a dedication to them, in honor of their sacrifice. It is not dedicated to any one person or group, or even just to the west-coast firefighters who battled those horrible wildfires; instead, to all firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty. Although designed as a standalone work, I highly recommend following this composition with one of the many fine band settings of Amazing Grace, as it is commonly performed at firefighter memorials. The one by Frank Ticheli is superb, and if you have access to a good piper there is an excellent version by Jay Dawson which features a solo verse for bagpipe; both are quite stirring. Performance Notes The sustained slower tempo may prove a challenge for some groups; as always, emphasize subdivision. Cues should be used only if necessary due to limited instrumentation. The clarinet and cup-muted trumpets at m. 39 should be very sostenuto (almost organ-like); be careful to stagger breathe. The tempo change at m. 55 should not be much of a challenge, but many groups may tend to slow back down to the original tempo by m. 59; the timpani player can greatly assist in avoiding this problem. The coda at m. 82 may be taken more slowly than the indicated tempo if your solo flutist can manage the lengthy sustained notes.
About the WorkIn the spring of 2008 a large number of wildfires plagued the west coast, including the area where my wife and I lived in northern California. Firefighters all along the West Coast worked overtime in what seemed like an endless battle to protect residents and their homes. After hearing of a number of firefighters who had lost their lives in the struggle, I composed this work as a dedication to them, in honor of their sacrifice. It is not dedicated to any one person or group, or even just to the west-coast firefighters who battled those horrible wildfires; instead, to all firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty.Although designed as a standalone work, I highly recommend following this composition with one of the many fine band settings of Amazing Grace, as it is commonly performed at firefighter memorials. The one by Frank Ticheli is superb, and if you have access to a good piper there is an excellent version by Jay Dawson which features a solo verse for bagpipe; both are quite stirring.Performance Notes The sustained slower tempo may prove a challenge for some groups; as always, emphasize subdivision. Cues should be used only if necessary due to limited instrumentation. The clarinet and cup-muted trumpets at m. 39 should be very sostenuto (almost “organ-like”); be careful to stagger breathe. The tempo change at m. 55 should not be much of a challenge, but many groups may tend to slow back down to the original tempo by m. 59; the timpani player can greatly assist in avoiding this problem. The coda at m. 82 may be taken more slowly than the indicated tempo if your solo flutist can manage the lengthy sustained notes.