Middle School Band Composition

I'd like to let my readers know about an opportunity that might be of interest. I would like to arrange my orchestra and narrator composition Melting Pot Overture for middle school band. This overture was written for the York Junior Symphony and premiered at the Eastern Regional MENC Conference. It is divided into three sections, each based upon different poetry with a common theme, “the unity of people on earth”. The work uses folk songs from different ethnic origins in combination with each other to create a composition reflective of the title. A slow introduction leads into a spirited allegro after the narrator speaks the ending of Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus”, which appears on the pedestal of the statue of Liberty. This is followed by a slow section where the composer’s poem, “I’m From America”, is spoken over the music. The final section is also a spirited allegro where the composer’s poem, “We Are One”, is spoken among a set of variations on a Quapaw Indian Song.

If this idea interests you, I have established a Performance Commissioning Consortium where interested groups commit to paying a $35 participation fee upon receipt of a pdf copy of the music. The participating groups have the right to a local premiere for one year following the receipt of the composition and inclusion of the group name in the dedication. In addition, this participation fee will be refunded upon receipt of a program and recording of the performance.
 
For more information about this project, please visit http://www.cooppress.net/page9/index.html Deadline for inclusion is May 1, 2014.
 


Thanks for considering this project.
 


Sy Brandon, Arizona Centennial Composer and American Prize Semi-finalist