Squirley_Guy
Well-Known Member
As many of you know, today there was a shooting at an elementary school in Newton, CT. I won't go in to too much detail, I just wanted to share a story with you guys.
Last year in my symphonic band class, we played a piece called "An American Elegy." It was written by Frank Ticheli, a composer who I quite honestly don't like, in light of the Columbine high school shooting of April 20, 1999. Ticheli says this about his piece:
During the performance, many people broke down and started crying, including the director who was, as the current band director describes him, "the saltiest old fish." When you listen to it, you will see why.
After the trumpet solo at around 7:31, our band added in a part where we sung the Columbine alma mater.
"Mountains rising to the sun,
towering o'er the plains,
heads held high we stand as one
as proudly we proclaim!
We are Columbine!
We all are Columbine!
Let the world be told,
blue and silver we uphold
forever."
At 7:02, the melody is the words of the Columbine alma mater "We are Columbine! We all are Columbine!" Whenever that part came when we played it, I got goosebumps all over.
Absolutley beautiful. By far my favorite band piece ever. Please take 10 minutes to listen to it, it is worth it. Thank you guys.
Last year in my symphonic band class, we played a piece called "An American Elegy." It was written by Frank Ticheli, a composer who I quite honestly don't like, in light of the Columbine high school shooting of April 20, 1999. Ticheli says this about his piece:
The first time our band performed this was on April 20, 2000, one year after the Columbine shootings. I was too young to know about it, but I heard it was the most crowded and emotional the performance of the band ever.Frank Ticheli said:A reaffirmation of the strength of the human spirit, this expansive elegy was composed in memory of those who lost their lives at Columbine High School, and to honor the survivors. It's graceful and gentle in its harmonic structure, yet musically probes for a deeper meaning. At the end, a simple, thoughtful solo for trumpet precedes a broad crescendo that lifts our hopes and quells our fears. A strikingly beautiful work both in meaning and in music!
During the performance, many people broke down and started crying, including the director who was, as the current band director describes him, "the saltiest old fish." When you listen to it, you will see why.
After the trumpet solo at around 7:31, our band added in a part where we sung the Columbine alma mater.
"Mountains rising to the sun,
towering o'er the plains,
heads held high we stand as one
as proudly we proclaim!
We are Columbine!
We all are Columbine!
Let the world be told,
blue and silver we uphold
forever."
At 7:02, the melody is the words of the Columbine alma mater "We are Columbine! We all are Columbine!" Whenever that part came when we played it, I got goosebumps all over.
Absolutley beautiful. By far my favorite band piece ever. Please take 10 minutes to listen to it, it is worth it. Thank you guys.