Pentucket Regional Middle and High School Concert Bands World Premier of
"Station Merrimack" by David Schumacher
Station Merrimack was commissioned by Anthony Beatrice for the combined Pentucket Regional High School and Middle School Concert Bands. Supported by Massachusetts Cultural Council grants from Groveland, Merrimac and West Newbury, Massachusetts, it will be premiered as part of an interdisciplinary project celebrating local ties to the Underground Railroad involving the Pentucket Regional High School history, videography, and music departments in November of 2011. The piece is one of hope and determination taking inspiration from the well-known spiritual "Follow the Drinking Gourd." Though its authenticity as a song complete with encoded lyrics to guide those on their journey through the Underground Railroad remains unconfirmed, the folklore surrounding its history continues to spark our collective imagination.
The first half of the piece is purely programmatic. The Drinking Gourd theme is introduced as a work song in the clarinets. They represent a solitary voice that is punctuated by the anvil strikes of the percussion section. Depicting the transformation of that solitary music to the collective voice of an empowered community yearning for freedom, added are voices, timbres, and increasingly rich re-harmonizations that evolve into the unified block chords at measure 21. This section personifies that tension and yearning, and culminated in the driving tempo beginning at measure 25. This new tempo signifies the communal decision to risk the journey north.
The remainder of the pieces draws on earlier motives set primarily within the minor pentatonic sound implied by the original melody. This simple melodic structure, along with the rich jazz harmonies supporting it, provides a fresh and engaging color palette for the musicians. The industrial colors of the highly involved percussion section add an edge and sense of urgency throughout. The yearning and exhilaration of the piece are wrapped up in a flurry of activity as the dramatic descending melody in measure 83 is passed from the flutes on through to the tuba on its way into the closing harmonic pyramid that leaves the listener on the edge of their seat.
The first half of the piece is purely programmatic. The Drinking Gourd theme is introduced as a work song in the clarinets. They represent a solitary voice that is punctuated by the anvil strikes of the percussion section. Depicting the transformation of that solitary music to the collective voice of an empowered community yearning for freedom, added are voices, timbres, and increasingly rich re-harmonizations that evolve into the unified block chords at measure 21. This section personifies that tension and yearning, and culminated in the driving tempo beginning at measure 25. This new tempo signifies the communal decision to risk the journey north.
The remainder of the pieces draws on earlier motives set primarily within the minor pentatonic sound implied by the original melody. This simple melodic structure, along with the rich jazz harmonies supporting it, provides a fresh and engaging color palette for the musicians. The industrial colors of the highly involved percussion section add an edge and sense of urgency throughout. The yearning and exhilaration of the piece are wrapped up in a flurry of activity as the dramatic descending melody in measure 83 is passed from the flutes on through to the tuba on its way into the closing harmonic pyramid that leaves the listener on the edge of their seat.
