Elegy for a Firefighter

Description

Piccolo, Flute 1, Flute 2, Oboe 1, Oboe 2, Clarinet in Eb, Clarinet in Bb 1, Clarinet in Bb 2, Clarinet in Bb 3, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon 1, Bassoon 2, Alto Saxophone 1, Alto Saxophone 2, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Trumpet in Bb 1, Trumpet in Bb 2, Trumpet in Bb 3, Horn in F 1, Horn in F 2, Horn in F 3, Horn in F 4, Trombone 1, Trombone 2, Trombone 3, Euphonium, Bb Euphonium, Tuba, String Bass, Piano, Mallet Percussion, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone, Chime, Timpani, Percussion, Tam-Tam, Crash Cymbals, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle — About the WorkIn the spring of 2008 a large number of wildfires plagued the west coast, including the area where my wife and I lived in northern California. Firefighters all along the West Coast worked overtime in what seemed like an endless battle to protect residents and their homes. After hearing of a number of firefighters who had lost their lives in the struggle, I composed this work as a dedication to them, in honor of their sacrifice. It is not dedicated to any one person or group, or even just to the west-coast firefighters who battled those horrible wildfires; instead, to all firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty.Although designed as a standalone work, I highly recommend following this composition with one of the many fine band settings of Amazing Grace, as it is commonly performed at firefighter memorials. The one by Frank Ticheli is superb, and if you have access to a good piper there is an excellent version by Jay Dawson which features a solo verse for bagpipe; both are quite stirring.Performance NotesThe sustained slower tempo may prove a challenge for some groups; as always, emphasize subdivision.Cues should be used only if necessary due to limited instrumentation.The clarinet and cup-muted trumpets at m. 39 should be very sostenuto (almost “organ-like”); be careful to stagger breathe.The tempo change at m. 55 should not be much of a challenge, but many groups may tend to slow back down to the original tempo by m. 59; the timpani player can greatly assist in avoiding this problem.The coda at m. 82 may be taken more slowly than the indicated tempo if your solo flutist can manage the lengthy sustained notes. In the spring of 2008, a number of firefighters lost their lives to several devastating wildfires plaguing the west coast. Jeremy Martin, a California native, wrote this rousing piece as a dedication to all firefighters who have given their lives in the line of duty. Especially followed by Amazing Grace, this stirring work is suitable for firefighter memorials. Elegy for a Firefighter's strong and solemn melody invites audiences to reflect and remember.

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