Steven Bryant

Instrumentation:   Band

Genres:   EnergeticFanfare

Paean: a song of triumph, or a solemn chant or song of praise

Commissioned in memory of Ernest and Donald Caneva by their family and friends, Paean: Triumph (along with its companion work, Paean: Chant), pays tribute to these men and their years of accomplishments as bandleaders. As preparation for the work, I discussed their personalities with Tom Caneva and Scott Casagrande: according to Scott, “Don was aggressive and headstrong, brash and caring. Ernie was suave, funny, loyal and a traditionalist.” In addition, Tom revealed that Ernie, a lover of Italian opera, had made a transcription of Verdi’s Triumphal March during his career. Using this as a starting point, I began to explore and develop the melody from Verdi’s fanfare, morphing it across the whole-tone scale until it takes on a wild, hyper-energetic, slightly unpredictable character. This fanfare, Triumph, forms the second of two works in this set (I prefer to think of them as a set of independent pieces, rather than movements – either can stand alone in performance).

Commissioned by: Ball State University, Muncie, IN, Thomas Caneva, Director of Bands John Hersey High School, Arlington Heights, IL, Scott Casagrande, Director of Bands Lockport Township High School, Lockport, IL, Brian Covey, Director of Bands Coastal Communities Concert Band, San Diego, CA, Robert C. Fleming, Conductor Members of the Caneva Family

Premiered

19 FEBRUARY 2012: Ball State Univ., 1 March 2012 ABA Convention, Ball State Wind Ens., 16 MARCH 2012 Orchestra Hall, Chicago, John Hersey HS Wind Ensemble

Technical Info

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