Steven Bryant

Nocturne is a short, simple chorale, using an impromptu melody I wrote on a napkin during Paul Bryan’s 98th birthday party in March, 2018. “PB,” as he is known to his friends, is the former director of the Duke University Wind Symphony, a noted musicologist, and still plays his Euphonium every day. During his tenure at Duke (1954-1987), he commissioned Giannini’s Symphony No. 3, Dello Joio’s Variants on a Medieaval Tune, and Persichetti’s So Pure the Star, among other works. He also once had Percy Grainger to Duke as a guest composer.

Nocturne is the second movement of my larger work, Pendulum, commissioned by a consortium led by the University of Illinois Bands Program in celebration of its 150th anniversary.

More info about Pendulum and its movements:

I. Shouting Defiance – 2’30”
II. Nocturne – 4′
III. Exclamation – 1’30”
IV. Meditation – 12′
V. Zeal – 4′

The University of Illinois gratefully acknowledges the following alumni conductors, their institutions, and friends who contributed to this project celebrating the Sesquicentennial of the University of Illinois Bands.

• Evanston Township High School, Evanston, Illinois — Matthew P. Bufis, Director of Bands
• Fresno State Wind Orchestra, Fresno, California — Gary P. Gilroy, Director of Bands
• John Hersey High School, Arlington Heights, Illinois — Scott Casagrande, Director of Bands
• Bill and Julie Jastrow, Naperville, Illinois
• University of Evansville, Evansville, Illinois — Kenneth Steinsultz, Director of Bands
• University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois — Stephen Peterson, Director of Bands
• University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky — Cody Birdwell, Director of Bands
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts — Matthew Westgate, Director
• University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, North Carolina — Kevin M. Geraldi and John R. Locke, Conductors
• University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina — Scott Weiss, Conductor
• University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota — John P. LaCognata, Conductor
• University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming — Robert Belser, Director of Bands
• Charles and Marti Yassky, Tappan, New York

Commissioned by: University of Illinois and consortium

Premiered

21 February 2019, CBDNA National Conference, Tempe, AZ. University of Illinois Wind Symphony, Stephen Peterson, conductor.

Technical Info

View Instrumentation List