Lux Spiritus (“Spirit of Light”) was written in celebration of a Pennsylvania band director who dedicated her life and career inspiring and instructing the next generation of musicians. The work takes the form of a celebratory fanfare followed by an energetic dance that seeks to capture the fun and energy her students experienced daily in…
Beauty and joy are on full display in this new piece for concert band. The classic Japanese folk song “Sakura, Sakura” (Cherry Blossoms) is heard briefly before the work presents a charming, orchestral dance that is set in counterpoint to a warm, romantic melody. A solo for oboe (cued in Alto Saxophone), pentatonic scales, and…
DarkHeart is the fifth and final movement of The Darklands Symphony, following the wildly successful first movement Darklands March. This symphony finale wraps the work up in a very gripping way, musically depicting a daring escape from the castle DarkHeart. As in the other movements, the plainchant Dies Irae is used prominently as thematic material…
In some European Christmas traditions, Saint Nick does not work alone, he travels with Krampus who doles out punishment to bad boys and girls. This work serves as a darkly delightful Christmas piece, intended to educate, entertain, and creep out your audience. The spooky narration helps frame the piece as The Ukranian Bell Carol; Up on…
In three movements, this suite for young band will capture the imaginations of your students and transport them to an amazing fantasy land of musical expression. It is designed to be played as a stand-alone suite, or for an even more expansive undertaking, as movements 2, 3, and 4 of the Darklands Symphony, along with…
Zooveniers was inspired by a trip to the Memphis Zoo in 2010. During this time I had been toying around with the idea of doing a suite of miniatures; I love miniatures and the inherent challenge in making them interesting and complete musical ideas. As I wandered the Zoo, I thought of how little time…
This work was commissioned for the Century Middle School Band in Lakeville, Minnesota and their conductor, Mr. Christopher Bolson. It was written in memory of Alyssa Ettl. In this piece, I have attempted to create a musical snowscape, a joyful place where children play, laugh, and leave their mark, as they do on all of…
Arabian scales and exotic percussion enhance the mysterious nature of this piece as it gradually accelerandos to its fiery conclusion. *JW Pepper’s Editor’s Choice 2009. Performed at the 2010 Midwest Music Clinic in Chicago. Included in Teaching Music Through Performance in Band vol.8 (GIA Publications). (Grand Mesa Music) Email Randall for sample requests. Click here…
