Travis J. Weller

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…

I am pleased to announce that AWM Publishing will be releasing Marshalls of the Open Range in the summer of 2010.  The piece was written as a challenge from friend and colleague, Dennis Emert last spring.  The result was this piece, and his students at Kerr Elementary gave the debut performance.  Probably the most humorous story I have ever been a part of happened to Dennis as he was working with his students.  After telling them if my schedule permitted I would be at the debut, a little girl in the front row asked him “How is that going to work Mr. Emert?”.  “What do you mean?” he asked.  The girl replied “How will he be at the debut? Aren’t all composers dead?”  Not yet…at least not this guy.  The piece stirs up images of noble lawmen of the old west patrolling their territory and enforcing justice. I hope you all enjoy Marshalls of the Open Range – a new recording is posted over at my Myspace page!

This week I began researching interpretation and feeling as part of my work at Kent State.  At first glance, they seemed unrelated. However, the more I began reading perspectives of different composers and conductors, my conclusion is that great interpretation does not just recreate the composer’s intent but rather conveys feelings that the composer intended. The sources abounded including Mark Camphouse’s series Composers on Composing for Band, and a great text edited by John Williamson Rehearsing the Band – both of which I recommend for great insight into score study, interpretation, and enhancing your podium perspective. Read more…

Nope sorry. No Dr. Jones here. Even a little far yet from being Dr. Weller.  But my search is beginning to intensify, and I am starting to see some light in an area of instrumental music that I am deeply concerned about.  I promise there will be no fire at the high school or the middle school, but I do expect to turn up the heat…it is January in the Northeast, after all.

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