My thanks and appreciation to mentor and long-time friend Dr. Edwin P. Arnold for including Fanfare on Themes of Davenport on his program for the 2012 PMEA All-State Concert Band. The work was originally debuted by The Grove City College Wind Ensemble at their 2007 PMEA All-State Performance in Hershey. The piece is a homage to the leading authority in music education in the keystone, and borrows from Davenport’s rousing “Salute to PMEA” March. Slightly bolder than the original, this was subtitled “Hail to PMEA”. Enjoy! Fanfare on Themes of Davenport by Travis J. Weller
I am pleased to announce that new recordings have been added to the composition page. Coming in the summer of 2012 from the FJH Music Company, Jubilant Flourishes will be available for High School Concert Band and The Last Stagecoach Heist will be available for Jr. High Concert Band. I am also pleased to announce the following pieces will be available from C.L. Barnhouse: Dream Chaser (A New Day Has Begun) for High School Concert Band (Grade 3), I Bought Me A Band for Middle School Concert Band (Grade 2), and Winds of a New Day for Elementary Band (Grade 1).
Where did all this music come from? My role as a composer has become an integral component of my philosophy and my daily walk as a music educator. Since my time as an undergraduate student I have always held an interest in arranging and composition for instrumental ensembles, but after taking my first teaching position I found my duties did not allow me to devote the proper time to this art. I found myself often envious of colleagues who had directed or played in a group in the evenings or on weekends. They had a great outlet to feed and nourish the musicians inside. Read more…
Thank you friends and colleagues for your patience and support over the last four years. It has been a long process to be sure, but I am pleased to announce that Journey to the Prairie is now available from Manhattan Beach Music. It may be ordered direct from MBM or you can order from JW Pepper as well.
Journey to the Prairie was written in one night – I couldn’t turn off the sounds. As Quincy says transitional tasks can be very helpful to develop material, and my wife couldn’t be happier that evening as I continued mopping, sweeping, and cleaning the house. I finished the piece at 3 a.m. that December morning, printed parts and had the wind ensemble at my school perform the first and only draft. I was excited to see this piece come to life, but discouraged as it was passed over by 3 other publishers. With nothing to lose, I entered it in the 2nd Annual Ticheli Competition.
Now some 5 years later the piece is available. My thanks to Dr. Arnold at Grove City College who provided the recording for the contest (it is also posted on my compositions page). I hope this piece might be useful to your ensemble in the coming months.
Two new works are now up on my compositions page. Yankee Overture, recorded by the GCC Wind Ensemble, and Romance for Winds, recorded by the Westminster College Wind Ensemble are both under publication review. Yankee Overture is a rousing concert opener based upon the folk song “Yankee Doodle”. “Romance for Winds” is a bit of a departure from some of my other songs stylistically, but pretty true to my orchestration tendencies. It is dedicated to my wife Beth, who without her love, support, and care, I could never have arrived at this point in my life. My thanks also to Dr. Arnold at GCC and Dr. Greig at Westminster – I appreciate their willingness to read and record this music with their students and making the recordings available. Enjoy!
Recent Comments