PROGRAM NOTES

NATHAN DAUGHTREY

After one too many experiences being a bored, young “drummer” in the back of a band room, composer and keyboard percussionist Nathan Daughtrey made it his mission to compose wind band and percussion music across all difficulty levels with engaging, independent percussion parts.

Primarily driven by battery percussion, the piece features exciting vocal effects all derived from the word "shock." A brief section in the middle of the piece takes a departure from the battery instruments by bringing prominence to the metallic keyboard percussion (bells, vibraphone, and chimes).

FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN & JOHANNES BRAHMS

Brahms was raised a performer — he learned violin and cello at a young age, and began studying piano seriously at age seven. However, he was especially interested in composing despite his parents’ early disapproval. He wrote several chamber works in his early years, and focused on sonatas and concertos rather than large orchestral works until later in life. 

The Variations on a Theme by Joseph Haydn, now also called the Saint Anthony Variations, is a work in the form of a theme and variations composed by Johannes Brahms in the summer of 1873 at Tutzing in Bavaria. It consists of a theme in B-flat major, eight variations, and a finale. The work was published in two versions: for two pianos ( Op. 56b) and for orchestra (Op. 56a).

The first performance of the orchestral version was given on November 2, 1873 — exactly 152 years ago today — by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under Brahms's baton.

MICHAEL SWEENEY, arranger

“Down by the Salley Gardens" is a poem by William Butler Yeats, first published in 1889, which he said was a reconstruction of three lines of a song he heard sung by an old woman in Ballisodare, County Sligo, Ireland. The "salley gardens" refer to willow groves, where willow shoots were once cultivated for roofing and served as a private place for lovers to meet. The poem was later set to music by composer Herbert Hughes in 1909, using the tune "The Mourne Shore," and became a key piece of the Celtic Revival. 

The haunting melody of this traditional Irish folk song is treated here in a lush and moving setting by Michael Sweeney. A wealth of interesting musical elements are provided through creative harmonizations and carefully placed key changes.

ADAM GORB

Adam Gorb studied Music at Cambridge University and Composition at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he graduated with the highest honors including the Principal’s Prize in 1993. His compositions include orchestral, ensemble, chamber, solo, and choral works, and have been performed, broadcast, and recorded worldwide. His compositions have been performed at numerous contemporary music festivals throughout the UK, and concerts entirely devoted to his music have been held in the UK, the USA, and Canada.

He was a featured composer at Luton and Bromsgrove music clubs and Chetham’s International Summer School. His concert band composition Metropolis has won several prizes, including the Walter Beeler Memorial Prize (US) in 1994. His works have been performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the Maggini Quartet, the BBC Singers, the Tokyo Kosei Wind Ensemble, the Royal Marines, and the Liverpool 10/10 ensemble.

Professor Adam Gorb is Head of School of Composition at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He has a PhD in Composition from the University of Birmingham and has taught at universities in the USA, Canada, Japan, and many European countries.

JOSEPH BOLOGNE, CHEVALIER DE SAINT-GEORGES

Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges was a remarkable figure in 18th-century European music and society. Born in Guadeloupe to a French plantation owner and an African slave, he moved to France as a child and received an elite education. He became a virtuoso violinist, celebrated for his technical brilliance, and a skilled composer, writing symphonies, concertos, operas, and chamber music. Bologne was also a conductor and led the famous Concert des Amateurs in Paris, gaining acclaim for his orchestral direction. Beyond music, he was a fencer and military officer, earning the title “Chevalier.” Despite his talent, he faced racial barriers, being denied a higher military rank and full acceptance in aristocratic society, and was often overlooked as a composer compared to white peers. However, despite the discrimination he faced, Bologne persevered, and has been widely celebrated in recent years.

CARLOS GARDEL

Por Una Cabeza is one of the most famous tangos composed by Carlos Gardel, legendary Argentine singer and composer. Written in 1935 with lyrics by Alfredo Le Pera, the song tells of a man’s obsession with both horse racing and romantic infatuation, comparing his passionate love to the thrill of a horse winning “by a head” (por una cabeza). The music combines the dramatic, sensuous rhythms of tango with a lyrical, flowing melody, creating a sense of longing, tension, and passion.

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY

Tchaikovsky was a towering figure in Russian classical music who left an indelible mark on the musical world. He was raised on music, starting piano at age five and quickly excelling at music comprehension and performance. Eventually he attended Saint Petersburg Conservatory. This education was particularly Western-oriented and is what eventually set Tchaikovsky’s composition style apart from The Mighty Five, a group of Russian composers that led a contemporary nationalist movement in music. Tchaikovsky’s ability to fuse Russian folk influences with European classical traditions produced timeless masterpieces that have endured for generations. His personal struggles add layers of depth to his music, which always conveys a rich tapestry of human emotion. 

Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Sleeping Beauty tells the story of Princess Aurora, who is cursed by the evil fairy Carabosse to fall into a deep sleep on her 16th birthday after pricking her finger on a spindle. The good Lilac Fairy, softens the curse, ensuring Aurora will not die but will instead sleep until awakened by true love's kiss. The ballet follows Aurora's journey through her enchanted sleep, the awakening by Prince Florimund, and their eventual marriage and grand wedding.

Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture brings Shakespeare's tragic tale to life through music. The piece begins with a solemn chorale representing Friar Lawrence, a symbol of wisdom and calm. Turbulent, aggressive motifs depict the violent feud between the Montagues and Capulets, while the sweeping, lyrical love theme of Romeo and Juliet conveys passion, tenderness, and longing. As the story unfolds these contrasting themes interact, building tension and emotion, and ultimately merge in a heartbreaking conclusion.

ALICE MARY SMITH

Alice Mary Smith composed her Symphony in C Minor at just 24 years old, making her the first known British woman to write a symphony. Premiered by the Musical Society of London in 1863, the work received critical acclaim for its maturity and craftsmanship.

The finale of her Symphony in C Minor, marked Allegro maestoso, resolves the work triumphantly in C major, transforming earlier tension into affirmation. Though not programmatic, the symphony conveys a clear emotional arc—from uncertainty and drama to optimism and resolution. Despite societal barriers, she gained recognition in her lifetime with performances of her orchestral and choral works in London. She died at the young age of 45, but left a significant mark as a pioneer for women composers in Britain.

BRIAN BALMAGES

Brian Balmages, an American composer and conductor, wrote Kyiv, 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion into Ukraine in 2022. Within months of being written, hundreds of premieres took place in nearly every US state as well as many performances abroad by ensembles ranging from middle schools to professional orchestras. The piece raised over $60,000 to support humanitarian relief efforts. 

The composer shared the following on completion of the work:

“Like so many around the world, I believe strongly in the ability of one person to make a difference for those in Ukraine. To that end, after 16 years, I have decided that it is now time for an official ‘sequel’ to one of my most popular pieces ever – Moscow, 1941. This work was composed in the first weeks of the Russian invasion into Ukraine, during which time the entire world has seen senseless tragedy, humanitarian crises, and incredible heroism and passion from the Ukrainian people. This piece, Kyiv, 2022, changes the narrative, where the theme from Moscow, 1941 (which is based on the Russian folk song “meadowlands”) now becomes the aggressor, and the heroic people of Ukraine are represented by the Ukrainian National Anthem and the powerful song “Prayer for Ukraine”. Musicians familiar with Moscow, 1941 will undoubtedly hear the intentional parallels between the two pieces, and I can see Kyiv, 2022 being performed individually or alongside Moscow. Certainly, it will spark a lot of conversations about humanity, history, culture, and more. I hope directors are able to use this piece to help students see how music really can help us relate to the world around us, and also to offer a musical way to support the people of Ukraine.”

CARL NIELSEN

Carl Nielsen was one of Denmark’s leading composers taking part in shaping the Danish musical identity of the early 20th century. He studied violin and composition at the Royal Danish Academy of Music. Nielsen was deeply moved by nature, often walking in the Danish countryside to find inspiration for his compositions. 

In Nielsen’s Aladdin Suite, the Oriental Festival March represents the opening ceremony and grandeur of the story’s magical, alluring setting. It depicts a royal procession or public celebration, often interpreted as the arrival of the Sultan or a festive court scene in Baghdad. This movement sets the stage for Aladdin’s adventures, establishing a world of vibrant life that contrasts with the intimate moments later in the suite.

HOWARD HANSON

Howard Hanson was an American composer, conductor, and educator. He studied at Oberlin Conservatory and the Eastman School of Music. Hanson won a Pulitzer Prize in 1944 and was an advocate for American music, conducting premieres of contemporary American composers and promoting the works internationally.

Hanson’s Merry Mount Suite draws on music he composed for Howard P. Taylor’s 1934 play Merry Mount, set in early 17th-century New England. The play contrasts the strict, austere Puritans with the free-spirited settlers of Merry Mount, exploring themes of love, social tension, and joyous celebration. In the suite, the Children’s Dance captures the playful energy of the village youth, while the Love Duet offers tender, lyrical music depicting romantic courtship. 

CAMILLE SAINT-SAËNS

Saint-Saëns was a French composer, pianist, and organist whose long career spanned the Romantic era into the early 20th century. A musical prodigy, he gave his first public performance at age ten and was admired for his technical skill and elegant style. Saint-Saëns composed in nearly every genre — symphonies, concertos, chamber music, and opera. 

Danse Bacchanale is the final orchestra dance from Saint-Saëns’ opera Samson et Dalila. In the story, Samson, a Hebrew hero with extraordinary strength, has been captured by the Philistines after Delilah betrays him. The dance celebrates the Philistines’ triumph. The piece combines festive energy with tension, reflecting both the pageantry of the temple and the looming tragedy of Samson’s final act.

ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK

Dvořák was a leading Romantic-era composer from Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) whose compositions helped establish a distinct Czech national style in classical music. Throughout his musical career, Dvořák utilized folk music and sought out distinct sounds from specific countries and regions to create music representative of those cultures and support a growing sense of nationalism among the common people. After finding success with many of his compositions in Europe, Dvořák was invited to the United States to become the director of the National Conservatory of Music of America in New York. Dvorak’s Slavonic Dance No. 8 is part of a set of dances inspired by Slavic folk music. Though written for the concert hall, the piece captures the rhythmic vitality, lively accents, and spirited melodies of folk dance.

SAMUEL BARBER

Samuel Barber was an American composer known for his lyrical and emotionally direct music. He studied at the Curtis Institute of Music and won two Pulitzer Prizes. Medea’s Dance of Vengeance is a dramatic orchestral work adapted from music he originally composed for Martha Graham’s ballet Medea. In the 1944 concert version, Barber condensed the ballet’s final scenes into a tightly focused symphonic poem. The music traces Medea’s transformation from anguish and jealousy to unbridled fury and retribution after betrayal. Barber’s lush harmonies and driving rhythms evoke both Greek tragedy and modern psychological intensity, culminating in a powerful cathartic conclusion.