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Song of Hope (w/soloist) - Peter Meechan
Song of Hope is dedicated to my good friend Ryan Anthony (principal trumpet with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra) and his charity, Cancer Blows - a foundation set up to raise awareness and money to further the research that has helped give their family a hope for a future following Ryan's diagnosis of Multiple MyelomaUpon hearing the middle movement (simply titled "Song") of my cornet concerto, Milestone, Ryan asked me if I could change the end from its current reflective ending to something more uplifting, and to title it Song of Hope, giving it much more meaning than I could have ever imagined.As well as a wind band scoring without soloist, Song of Hope exists with 1, 2 or 3 soloists, accompanied by either wind band, brass band, brass ensemble or symphony orchestra.For my friend Ryan.Each set comes with the soloist part for 1 soloist. Please download the alternative 2 or 3 soloist parts from the link above.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Soul Divine - Peter Meechan
From the Gelinas family:"David Gelinas was a grade 10 student at Dr. Martin LeBoldus Catholic High School in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. On May 2, 1992, he was tragically killed in a car accident. David was an accomplishedtenor saxophone playerand member of the LeBoldus Concert Band, multiple Jazz Bands and the Regina Lions Junior Band. He dreamt of a future in music at McGill University.In the 25 years since his death, David's family and friends have embraced life, the importance of family, and a love of music. This piece is dedicated to the memory our son, brother, uncle, student, and friend, David Gelinas. Always in our hearts and minds, David's love of music plays on."Chad Huel, Director of Bands at LeBoldus Catholic High School, Regina, Saskatchewan, approached me to write a new work for the school's symphonic band in memory of his friend, David Gelinas. Chad spoke of his friend's love of music and life, the time they spent together, his skills as a tenor saxophonist, and how his life was cut so tragically short.Before writing this piece, I was reading the William Blake poem Auguries of Innocence. Contained in that poem were the following words, which seemed so beautifully poignant and appropriate, and hopefully encapsulates something about grief, as well as celebration of life."Joy & Woe are woven fineA Clothing for the soul divineUnder every grief & pineRuns a joy with silken twine"Soul Divine is dedicated to Chad Huel and the Gelinas family, in memory of David Gelinas.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Taking the Fifth - Peter Meechan
Written during the Covid-19 pandemic, originally as an adaptable chart, Taking the Fifth takes its title from both the primary interval of the work as well as from a general British expression that when something is outrageous, remarkable, or the worse of its kind that it "takes the biscuit".Given that the piece was written during the Covid-19, and that even more unpredictable news that followed every day during the pandemic, it seemed an apt title!Upbeat, occasionally dark, but always with drive and a sense of fun, Taking the Fifth was the piece that got my creative juices flowing again, having initially found myself pretty lost for inspiration during the early stages of pandemic.Taking the Fifth is dedicated to my dear friend, Robert Ambrose.Peter Meechan 2021Anthony Reimer, Calgary, CanadaBenedictine College - Tom Davoren, Director of BandsBrandon University - Wendy Zander McCallum, Conductor, Symphonic BandBrooklyn Wind Symphony - Jeff W. Ball, Artistic Director & ConductorDordt University - Onsby C. Rose, Director of Instrumental StudiesGeorgia State University - Robert Ambrose, Director of BandsGlobal Bandroom Podcast - Keith Kelly, HostKansas State University - Frank Tracz, Director of BandsUniversity of Kansas - Matthew Smith, Associate Director of BandsUniversity of Regina - Brent Ghiglione, Director of BandsWinona State University - Melanie Brooks, Director of Bands
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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The Legend of King Arthur - Peter Meechan
King Arthur is the subject of many tales, stories, myths and legends - from his ascension to the throne by pulling the sword from the stone, his courageous battles with his fellow Knights of the Round Table, to his ultimately tragic love for Guinevere.The Legend of King Arthur is a musical portrayal of some of the most important moments in the legend.The opening of the work - a rock inspired overture - is a reference to Arthur's final resting place (at least, so some legends have it!), the modern day Glastonbury (Avalon in the legend), and it is in this opening that we hear for Arthur's theme.This high octane opening gives way to a mysterious section - as Merlin (the mystical wizard) places in a stone a sword, upon which was inscribed "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone is the rightwise born king of all England". The music describes the mystical surroundings as each of the contenders for the throne take their turn - to no avail - and with a return to the original theme, we hear Arthur pull the sword from the stone, to become King of England.Next we hear a depiction of Arthur's greatest victory in battle - The Battle of Mount Badon. He finally defeated the Saxon invaders of Britain - over 900 Saxons perished - and the victory brought about an extended period of peace. Arthur is portrayed as brave, bold and confident as he and his Knights end years of invasion.The penultimate section of the work tells the tale of Arthur's tragic love for Guinevere - his traitorous wife, who through her infidelity with Sir Lancelot (Arthur's most trusted Knight), ultimately leads Arthur in to his final battle with his nephew, Mordred.We hear the final bitter battle, which eventually ends with only Arthur and Mordred fighting. Arthur is wounded, fatally, by his nephew -at which point we hear with a sudden and dramatic sounding of Arthur's theme - and is taken to Avalon to die.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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The Pohutukawa Stands - Peter Meechan
The earthquake that hit Christchurch in February 2011 took the lives of 181 people. Being asked to write this work in their memory was an honour, but I didn't want it to simply be performed as a memorial. I wanted to compose a work that conveyed the sadness and grief for those lost - a work of remembrance - but also a piece of music that represented peace, hope and strength.The title and dedication come direct from the commissioners of the work, Woolston Brass Band. The Pohutukawa Trees stay standing and secure, defiant of the earthquake, in Christchurch's 'Garden City', and the Pohutukawa tree also has special significance beyond their physical appearance.According to Maori mythology, the spirits of the dead travel to Cape Reinga on their journey to the afterlife to leap off the headland and climb the roots of the 800 year old Pohutukawa tree and descend to the underworld to return to their traditional homeland of Hawaiiki-a-nui, using the Te Ara Wairua, the 'Spirits' pathway'.The Pohutukawa Stands is dedicated to the lives lost in the Christchurch earthquake.The wind orchestra scoring was completed in 2013.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Through Clouds and Sunshine - Peter Meechan
Commissioned by Major Matthew Clark and the Royal Canadian Air Force Band in celebration of their 75th anniversary, Through Clouds and Sunshine draws on flight as an inspiration.The piece is based on a hymn by Canadian Richard Campbell, The Airman's Prayer. On first hearing of the hymn I felt a sense of nostalgia - The Airman's Prayer is reminiscent of so many hymns I remember singing in school assemblies (attending Church of England schools until the age of 12 provided plenty of opportunity to learn a great many hymns!).The hymn is used throughout all three movements in various treatments; at times it is utilized as a harmonic basis for the work, and at other times the melody is taken (in fragments or as a whole) to provide a journey through the piece as a whole.The first movement, Power, is an imagining of brave pilots taking to the glorious skies before encountering enemy fighters - driven by adrenaline, Power takes the listener through many emotions and thoughts: fear, excitement, energy, victory.The second movement, Air, sets the hymn in a number of ways. Featuring an offstage euphonium, the work begins with voices from the heavens, before the ensemble nostalgically holds on to each note in the second verse. A more straightforward, and perhaps poignant, setting for a brass choir follows, before a return to the offstage euphonium for a final sounding of the hymn.The finale movement, Space, is a moto perpetuo tour-de-force for the whole ensemble. Drawing on the hymn, the movement is underpinned by fast moving 16th notes in the winds and percussion whilst the brass play fragments of the hymn over the top of the driven ostinato.The work was commissioned by, and dedicated to, Major Matthew Clark and the Royal Canadian Air Force Band (Winnipeg, Canada).Peter Meechan 2023
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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Zenith - Peter Meechan
zenithn.The point on the celestial sphere vertically above a given position or observer.Looking straight up, to me, means looking in to the night sky; looking at the stars, the planets. There's mystery, intrigue, a sense of being small, a sense that the universe is massive beyond what we are able to comprehend.All these ideas are represented in the music - the bass instruments at the opening rise, the loud climax is representative of how big the universe is, and the smaller solos represent a combination of the amazement of looking to the stars and to how small a part we play in the universe - how alone the human race really is.At night, to look to the zenith is to look to the stars.Zenith was commissioned by Will Martin, Marcy Racicot and the Prairie Spirit West Senior Band, SK, Canada.
Estimated dispatch 5-14 working days
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