Music

Difficulty: 4-5
Duration:
Chant: 7'
Triumph: 4'
SCORE Instrumentation
RENT

Paean (2012)

Chant
Triumph

Commissioned by Ball State University, Muncie, IN, Thomas Caneva, Director of Bands
John Hersey High School, Arlington Heights, IL, Scott Casagrande, Director of Bands
Lockport Township High School, Lockport, IL, Brian Covey, Director of Bands
Coastal Communities Concert Band, San Diego, CA, Robert C. Fleming, Conductor
Members of the Caneva Family

World premieres: FEBRUARY 19th, 2012 (Ball State Univ.), MARCH 1st, 2012 (ABA Convention [Ball State Wind Ens.]), MARCH 16th, 2012 (Orchestra Hall, Chicago [John Hersey HS Wind Ens.)

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Paean: a song of triumph, or a solemn chant or song of praise

Commissioned in memory of Ernest and Donald Caneva by their family and friends, Paean pays tribute to these men and their years of accomplishments as bandleaders. As preparation for the work, I discussed their personalities with Tom Caneva and Scott Casagrande: according to Scott, "Don was aggressive and headstrong, brash and caring. Ernie was suave, funny, loyal and a traditionalist." In addition, Tom revealed that Ernie, a lover of Italian opera, had made a transcription of Verdi's Triumphal March during his career. Using this as a starting point, I began to explore and develop the melody from Verdi's fanfare, morphing it across the whole-tone scale until it takes on a wild, hyper-energetic, slightly unpredictable character. This fanfare, Triumph, forms the second of two works in this set (I prefer to think of them as a set of independent pieces, rather than movements - either can stand alone in performance).

My approach to the first work in the set, Chant, developed from a visit to Francis McBeth, my mentor and first composition teacher, in Fall, 2011. With his blessing, I decided to build a piece around his early work, Chant and Jubilo. In an unexpected coincidence, I discovered his work turned 50 years old in December, 2011 - the exact same month I completed Paean. Unfortunately, McBeth ("Dr. Mac" to his students), passed away in January, 2012, before I had a chance to share this music with him. This music celebrates and is dedicated to the mentors and teachers who have shaped and inspired us.

Orchestra

Professional

Educational/Youth

Band

Professional

Medium / Difficult

Educational/Youth

Mixed