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Solitary Wish, A
Contents
General Info
Year: 2017 / 2018
Duration: c. 5:00
Difficulty: II-1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: FJH Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $55.00; (digital) - $55.00 | Score Only (print) - $8.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon I
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Bells
- Crash Cymbals
- Marimba
- Sleigh Bells
- Suspended Cymbal
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
Players conversing
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Emotional and reflective, this work paints a poignant picture of the holiday season as seen through the eyes of a homeless person. The music uses Carol of the Bells and Greensleeves to depict a lonely person who is eventually joined by others. Ultimately, a quartet performs before switching to a final duet, leaving the homeless person with his holiday wish granted, revealing the true spirit of the season.
- Program Note by publisher
I learned an amazing lesson before I began this piece. While I consider myself to be a “good” person, I read a friend’s comment about seeing a homeless woman named Joyce outside of Target. Joyce needed a new pair of shoes because it was getting cold outside and she only had sandals. My friend decided to get her the shoes, but also decided to buy her lunch and some extra food. Simple comments like “How will you heat up canned soup?” “Usually the microwave at 7-Eleven works.” “Why don’t you get the big peanut butter?” “Because it is too heavy to carry around.” And then she remarked how every single person around them averted their eyes as they walked by. It gave her a tremendous amount of perspective and a desire to be much more empathetic in the future. I thought the same thing.
Fast-forward just a few hours. I was outside a food store with my kids and there was a man outside asking for some food. I watched quite a few people walk by. Some actually said “sorry” as they walked by, but most of them did not even look at him or acknowledge him when he spoke to them. Finally, with my new “perspective” in hand, I walked up to him and asked him if he was okay. He just needed something to drink and a little bit of food. I took him into the store with me and bought him something. His name is Bruce. He is 32 years old. He has three kids – 2 in elementary school and 1 in middle school. He acknowledged that he’s made plenty of mistakes in life, but that he is trying really hard to get back up on his feet and live in the area so he can be close to his kids. We chatted for a bit, then I had to run and get my youngest to a soccer game. As we were leaving, he held the door open for us and said thanks. “It’s hard when people ignore you all day long. Thanks for stopping.” With the holiday season approaching, this struck me hard. So many of us are already making our “lists.” Others are bugging us for them so they can start their shopping early. We are annoyed because we have to go to several houses on Thanksgiving Day, or open gifts at several houses (or travel) during the holiday season. And then some perspective – someone like Joyce or Bruce – they wish for food, water, and for someone to notice them.
There are many holiday pieces out there about everything you can imagine. This one begins with a single individual (a cello soloist) just asking to be noticed while everyone walks by – some dropping a few coins or a dollar but avoiding conversation at all cost. As the music develops, we experience a wide range of emotions as the joy of the holidays is juxtaposed with solitude. Ultimately, in this particular story, the individual is joined by another, and eventually there are four of them together (the quartet). As a couple people begin to leave, one stays behind (a violin soloist) and the person’s wish comes true.
Please share this story with your audience. It is my hope that this piece will spread awareness and help individuals all over the world. Donate your time, donate a small amount, or just smile and say hello. You just may make someone’s wish come true.
- Program Note by composer
Commercial Discography
None discovered thus far.
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Boston (Mass.) Latin School (Raymond Fallon, conductor) – 20 December 2018
- Callanwolde Concert Band (Decatur, Ga.) (Glenn Moore, conductor) – 6 December 2018
Works for Winds by this Composer
Adaptable Music
- Arabian Dances (Adaptable Band) (2009/2021)
- Arith-Metric No. 1 (Adaptable Band) (2020)
- Blue Ridge Reel (Adaptable Band) (2013/2020)
- Colliding Visions (Adaptable Band) (2010/2020)
- A Little Matrix Music (Adaptable Band) (2020)
- Moscow, 1941 (Adaptable Band) (2006/2020)
All Wind Works
- African Journey (2001)
- Always United, Forever Strong (2013)
- American Big Top (2018)
- Among the Clouds (2004)
- Apollo (2008)
- Arabian Dances (2009)
- Arabian Dances (Adaptable Band) (2009/2021)
- Arith-Metric No. 1 (Adaptable Band) (2020)
- The Awakening (2003)
- Backstage Pass (2015)
- Beyond the Summit (2004)
- Blue Ridge Reel (2013)
- Blue Ridge Reel (Adaptable Band) (2013/2020)
- Breaking Point (2019)
- Bright Morning Stars
- Bringer of War (2017)
- Call of the Wild (2013)
- Camptown Variations (2001)
- Chant and Savage Dance (2005)
- Chesapeake Serenade (2002)
- Colliding Visions (Adaptable Band) (2010/2020)
- Comet Ride (2006)
- Conquest (2003)
- Courtly Dance and Procession (2004)
- Dragonfly (2001)
- Eagles Among Us (2017)
- Elements (2010)
- Enchantment (2014)
- Endless Rainbows (2013)
- Escapades (2005)
- Escape from the Deep (2010)
- Etowah (2008)
- Evocatio (2014)
- Falcon Fanfare (2012)
- Fanfare Canzonique (2003)
- Fanfare on a Theme of Imagination (2015)
- A Festive Fanfare (2017)
- A Festive Finale (2019)
- Fiesta de los Toros (2017)
- Flight (2005)
- Flight of the Griffin (2003)
- Forever... (2014)
- Fusion (2007)
- Gettysburg
- Grace (2016)
- Groove Music (2013)
- Haunted Clocks (2014)
- Heart of Gold (2020)
- A Hero's Destiny (1999)
- Homage to Bharat (2018)
- A House Divided (2013)
- Hypnotic Fireflies (2013)
- Images of Ireland (2004)
- In Nature's Glory (2002)
- Incantation and Ritual (2004)
- Industrial Loops (2017)
- Infinite Hope (2018)
- Instant Christmas Spirit
- Into the Arctic (2015)
- Invictus (2000)
- Jingle Bell Tones
- Journey By Night (1998)
- Journey for a Soldier (2010)
- Joy in All Things (2012)
- Joy of Life (2015)
- Jungle Dance (2011)
- Kilauea
- Kindred Spirits (2009)
- Legacy
- Legend (2001)
- Legend of the Drop Bear (2016)
- A Light at the End of Forever (2016)
- A Little Matrix Music (Adaptable Band) (2020)
- Loudoun Praises (2005)
- Love and Light (2020)
- Lullaby to the Moon (2017)
- Majestica (2006)
- Marche Diabolique (2014)
- Metal (2013)
- Metamorphic Dances (2019)
- Midnight on Main Street (2009)
- Midnight Suite
- Midnight Mission (2006)
- Midnight Sky (2006)
- Midnight Madness (2007)
- Miramar Fanfare (2003)
- Moscow, 1941 (2006)
- Moscow, 1941 (Adaptable Band) (2006/2020)
- Motion (2006)
- Nevermore (2011)
- Not Afraid to Dream (2006)
- O Mio Babbino Caro (2000)
- Of Emperors and Chariots (2000)
- Olympia
- Open Space (2014)
- Parade of the Jesters (2002)
- Pele (2004)
- Phasing Thunder (2014)
- Pikes Peak (2019)
- Primal Dances (2018)
- Proclamation (2000)
- Proudly We Hail (as arranger) (1814/2002)
- Raging Machines (2008)
- Rain (2008)
- Renaissance Reimagined (2017)
- Reverberations (2009)
- Rhythms and Riffs (2008)
- Rippling Watercolors (2015)
- Rite of Passage (2000)
- Rocky Mountain Romp (2007)
- Sapier's Story
- Shadow Waltzes (2016)
- Shadows Unleashed (2013)
- Shenandoah Triptych (2002)
- Shrine of the Fallen (2016)
- Silence Overwhelmed (2010)
- Smithsonian Suite (2003)
- A Solitary Wish (2017/2018)
- Sound Prisms (2002)
- Sparks (2007)
- Spirit of the Stallion (2016)
- Spontaneous Beings (2017)
- Star Above, Shine Brightly (2001)
- The Star-Spangled Banner (as arranger) (1814/2014)
- Starscapes (2007)
- Summer Dances (2000)
- Summer Resounding! (2008)
- Summit City (2006)
- Sun Cycles (2012)
- Swirling Prisms
- Symphonic Episodes (2004)
- Symphony No. 1 for Brass (1998)
- Synthesis (2016)
- Temple of the Murals (2011)
- That Which Binds Us (2015)
- Three Celtic Dances (2008)
- Thrill Ride (2019)
- Through Courageous Eyes (2003)
- Thunderbolt Fanfare (2019)
- Trust in Angels (2017)
- Twittering Machine (2017)
- A View of the World (2001)
- Waves (2007)
- When Spirits Soar (2006)
- Whispering Winds (2003)
- Winged Victory (2007)
- Winter Dances (2001)
- Within the Castle Walls (2012)
Resources
- Brian Balmages website Accessed 15 September 2020
- Perusal score