In Memoriam 911 for Orchestra (2001, orch. 2011)

This piece was begun seven days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001, and the short score was completed just four weeks later on October 26. Memorial contributions as a result of the tragic events of that day have been poured out almost universally since that time. I hope this music, however insignificant when compared to all other efforts, may at least become a part of the collection of works dedicated to human resitance and resiliency.
The music is divided into five distict parts. Part 1, Wall Street, begins and ends with the opening and closing bells of Wall Street, between which is the hustle and bustle of the everyday activities surrounding it. The first four notes of the repeating syncopated theme eventually become the cornerstone for Part 5. In Part 2, Nocturne, the city falls asleep, the closing bell of the day immediately leading to the evening song. As the sun rises for the new day fragments of melody hint at the new business day awakening, without indication of the tragedy soon to unfold. Part 3, The Attacks, erupts out of the peaceful nocturne, the roar of drums and the dissonant blast of the full orchestra four times representing each of the individual and heinous acts. By the third attack, reality is beginning to set in as to what has occurred and by the end of this section it is apparent there must be time to reflect. The Hymn and Elegy, Part 4, leads prayers for the victims and allows that time necessary to begin the serious task of healing. At the close of the Elegy horn calls announce a new beginning. The last part, People of Resolve, is actually in itself, two distinct parts, a Moderato which recalls the four note theme from the first part, a refusal to let go of life as it has been and must be or to let any criminal act take control, followed by a March, derived from the Elegy's horn calls, leading all people of hope and honor to triumph over the actions of evil.
Originally this music was intended for concert band, as that was the only venue available to me at the time, but it never happened that way. And quite honestly, my real vision of the piece was more for full orchestra anyway. Nevertheless, it sat for many years in unorchestrated form until April of 2011, when there were hints it might get performed for 911 memorial purposes later in the year. The symphonic orchestration was completed around the end of May, 2011.
The parts are continuous from one to the next. With the completed orchestration done initially with Notion software, the resulting MP3 here is much more realistic than the original MP3s created from MIDI files.