Homecoming

Description

Piccolo, Flute 1, Flute 2, Oboe 1, Oboe 2, Bassoon 1, Bassoon 2, Clarinet in Bb 1, Clarinet in Bb 2, Clarinet in Bb 3, Bass Clarinet, Alto Saxophone 1, Alto Saxophone 2, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Trumpet in Bb 1, Trumpet in Bb 2, Trumpet in Bb 3, Horn 1, Horn 2, Horn 3, Horn 4, Trombone 1, Trombone 2, Trombone 3, Euphonium, Bb Euphonium, Tuba, Mallet Percussion 1, Vibraphone, Mallet Percussion 2, Chime, Timpani, Percussion 1, Snare Drum, Bells, Percussion 2, Suspended Cymbal, Bass Drum — In this piece, the word "homecoming" is not an allusion to the American high school football tradition, but rather the sense of returning to anywhere one might call “home.” The piece aims to paint the sounds of longing, nostalgia, sentimentality, warmth, and home. While writing this piece, my mind considered my high school days, the deep friendships I’ve built over the years, and my family. There is a sense of bittersweetness that I think a lot of us feel when we think of or journey back to an “old stomping ground” - joy from the fond memory, yet pain in the loss of what was. I wanted the melodies of this piece to be hummable and clear, as a good memory can come to mind clearly and immediately, like the tune to a song one has always known.The harmonies and instrumental textures are meant to sound warm and sweet, with hints of sadness mixed throughout. The piece begins with sparse instrumentation, emulating the way one feels when they just begin to remember something in their past - as a single person, like the bare flutes that start the piece, considers a memory, more people, places, and senses start flooding back, like the full orchestration that follows in the piece. Sparse instrumentation returns at the end and the music fades, symbolizing the end of reflection on a memory. I hope it reminds you of a place you consider home. Homecoming is a warm, lyrical piece that conveys the universal experience of returning, physically or emotionally, to a place we call home. With hummable melodies and rich harmonies, the music invites audiences into the feelings of nostalgia and gratitude. The colorful display of the different timbres of the wind band, melodic gestures, and climactic conclusion make this work an ideal programming choice for directors seeking a heartfelt concert work..

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