Song of Hope

version for wind band alone

by
Peter Meechan

Ensemble: Wind Orchestra

Grade: 3

Duration: 04:30

Year of Composition: 2013

Publisher: Peter Meechan

Year of Publication: 2015

Publisher Catalog Number: PMM128

Available: Yes

How to Acquire: Publisher, Purchase

Links:

Web Page

Sample Audio

Perusal Score 

Instrumentation

Piccolo
Flutes 1,2
Oboe
Bassoon
B♭ Clarinets 1,2
B♭ Bass Clarinet
E♭ Alto Saxes 1,2
B♭ Tenor Sax
E♭ Baritone Sax
B♭ Trumpets 1,2
F Horns 1,2,3,4
Trombones 1,2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion (2 players):
1. Glockenspiel, Timpani
2. Suspended Cymbal, Tam-tam

Adapted by the composer in 2015, from the second movement of Milestone, concerto for cornet and brass band. Song of Hope is also available in versions for trumpet solo with wind band or other accompaniments. The solo versions can be played with two or even three trumpet soloists.


Program Notes:

Song of Hope is dedicated to my good friend Ryan Anthony (principal trumpet with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra) and his charity, CancerBlows – a foundation set up to raise awareness and money to further the research that has helped give their family a hope for a future.

When Ryan Anthony first heard the middle movement of my cornet concerto Milestone (a movement simply titled “Song”), he was battling multiple myeloma, as he would do for the rest of his life. In one of those moments you can’t really explain, “Song” spoke to him – it sounded like hope. He asked me to write a different ending (originally it was a quiet, reflective end – Ryan wanted something triumphant), and to adapt it so that he could play it solo, as a duo, or as a trio – as he would say, “no one fights these battles alone and I want that to be represented by having more than one soloist”.

He asked that the piece be named Song Of Hope (though it often gets referred to as “Song For Hope” – which is the name of the documentary made about his life – more on that here), and, in order for him to be able to play it on every concert, that it be arranged for concert band, brass band, brass ensemble, symphony orchestra, piano, etc.

I miss Ryan dearly every day – he understood the power of music more than perhaps anyone else I’ve ever met.

(Peter Meechan)