Travis J. Weller

I am pleased to announce that a live recording of Jazz Kings is now up at Myspace.  My thanks to the GCC Wind Ensemble for doing some great work on very short notice!  Looking forward to seeing many of you in Chicago next month amongst clinics and concerts galore – and especially a clinic given by Dr. Joseph M. Pisano (be there!).

Bump on over to Bandworks Publications, founded by New Jersey composer Patrick J. Burns! I have been a big fan of Patrick’s music for wind band over the past few years, and I am very excited he has launched his own publishing company.  It is an honor that he asked me to write a piece for the catalogue alongside some colleagues I really respect in the business including Chris Bernotas, and Drew Fennell (whom has really delivered on conducting and interpreting some of my pieces).  Check it out!!!

I am pleased to announce that two new pieces are available for preview at FJH Music.  The first is a piece for middle school/junior high band entitled “Tales of A Medieval Warrior”.  It is a three movement work full of brash fanfares, opportunities for small chamber groups within the ensemble, and a thundering conclusion portraying a joust!  The second piece is a transcription of a piece I originally wrote for the River City Youth Brass Band.  “A Frontier Fought and A City Found” chronicles the final capture of “The Point” in Pittsburgh by British Forces during the Seven Years War.  On the FJH Site you are able to preview the score while listening to the recordings by The Washington Winds.  As always, thank you for your support of this music, and I hope it can a wonderful musical experience for directors, students, and audiences alike!

I am pleased to have two new selections available from the FJH Music Company this summer.  The first is a transcription of a piece originally written for the River City Youth Brass Band in 2009.  “A Frontier Fought and A City Found” retells a small part of the story from the Seven-years War in relation to the founding of Pittsburgh, Pa. It is intended for high school band.  The second piece is a 3 movement programmatic suite entitled “Tales of Medieval Warrior”.  The piece follows the dubbing of  new knight, his courtship of a fair maiden, and his eventual conquest at a jousting tournament.  It is intended for middle school/junior high ensembles.  The first two-movements are in cut-time, though the rhythms are very basic and dance-like.  The final movement uses a variety of rhythms in 6/8 time that are well within the abilities of musicians at this age.  Thank you to the colleagues who provided feedback about these pieces along the way, and to Brian for his support and belief in this music.

It has been a unique spring to say the least – I cannot remember a time that I have been busier with writing, guest conducting, concerts, teaching, and traveling.  I am constantly humbled by colleagues both near and far who have selected “American Visions” for performance with their group.  While there are program notes in the score, I feel led to provide the full story that sparked this piece into being.  Some of it was written over my life-time, but I did not know how to say it.  It is a piece about America, a piece about my father, and the composer I am trying to become. Read more…