Texas Tribute, A

From Wind Repertory Project
David Lovrien

David Lovrien


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General Info

Year: 2021
Duration: c. 32:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Manuscript
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown


Movements

1. Texas Revolution – c. 10:00
2. Texas Constitution – c. 1:35
3. The Cowboy Life, Part 1 c. 0:50
4. The Cowboy Life, Part 2- c. 3:25
5. Oil Boom c. 6:14
6. Humor & Politics – 4:00
7. Final Thoughts & Closing - 2:35


Instrumentation

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Composer David Lovrien has been a fan of Texas Country Reporter since its beginning. After his family moved to Texas from Nebraska in 1971, TCR was his first introduction to “what Texas was like.” TCR co-hosts Bob and Kelli Phillips first met David in May 2018 at a Richardson Community Band concert. Conductor (and Dallas Winds contrabass clarinetist) Robin Owens invited David’s Texas Saxophone Quartet to perform as guest artists, and Bob was asked to emcee the concert. After the concert Bob shared a dream with David and his wife Grace -- to create a symphonic program where he and Kelli could narrate stories of Texas history, culture, and tales from their half-century of travels. He had seen CBS reporter Charles Kuralt, famous for his On The Road series, give a similar concert many years ago based on North Carolina culture, and Bob was sure the richness of Texas lore could be even more successful.

David volunteered to compose the underscore for the project, and Bob began writing a script with TCR senior producer Mike Snyder. They then turned things over to David to create a live soundtrack to complement the spirit and emotion of the powerful stories they gathered.

The seven movements of A Texas Tribute are spread over the course of the concert, interspersed with other favorite Texas and Western-themed selections.

I. Texas Revolution - The first movement describes the beginnings of our state, from the Texas declaration of independence to the Alamo. Bob reads the words of early settler Micajah Autry and the stirring final letter of William Travis from the Alamo. The soundtrack paints a serene landscape, with noble fanfares rising from within. During the Alamo section, listen as horns and trumpets echo the fateful bugle call El Degüello(the throat-cutting) sounded by Santa Anna’s troops to signal the Alamo defenders that no quarter would be given.

II. Texas Constitution - The revolution is won. Kelli reads the preamble to the Texas Constitution and the fanfare theme returns.

III. The Cowboy Life, Part 1 - Bob and Kelli describe the inescapable cowboy stereotypes associated with Texas.

IV. The Cowboy Life, Part 2 - Sentimental Western melodies rise like smoke from a dying campfire as Bob reads the wistful words of true Texas cowboy J.S. Kenyon, who retired from the historic XIT ranch in 1904.

V. Oil Boom - In 1901, the famous Spindletop oil well struck it rich. Listen for the thumping bass drum as Bob describes early drilling technology, followed by Kelli reading reports from Galveston newspapers of the day to the accompaniment of upbeat ragtime tunes.

VI. Humor & Politics - Texas certainly has its own brand of humor. Some say the way we talk is funny enough, but the wit and wisdom of Texas writers and politicians gives Texas humor -- and politics --a character like nowhere else.

VII. Final Thoughts/Closing - Bob and Kelli conclude by reciting the poem God Save Texas by Marcia Ball and Lawrence Wright.

- Program Note from Dallas Winds concert program, 1 October 2021


Texas Country Reporter is a weekly syndicated television program, hosted and produced by Bob Phillips and Kelli Phillips, which airs in all twenty-two Texas media markets, generally on weekends, and nationally on the satellite/cable channel RFD-TV. As of November 2017, Phillips had already taped more than 2000 episodes of the program. It is the longest running independently produced program in the nation. The show has been honored many times for the quality of its work including more than 30 EMMY awards.

Texas Country Reporter showcases Texas people and places, with an emphasis on rural areas and in a style similar to that of Charles Kuralt's On the Road for CBS News, who was Phillips' mentor when he first began his career.

- Program Note from Wikipedia


Media

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State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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  • Dallas (Tx.) Winds (Jerry Junkin, conductor; Bob Phillips and Kelli Phillips, narrators) - 1 October 2021 *Premiere Performance*


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

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