Steven Bryant

Zeal ignites immediately into a simmering cloud of breath and cymbals. The expanding chord progression from Shouting Defiance returns, and the music moves with simple-minded, burning self-certainty, embodying the seductive euphoria and danger of absolute belief.

This is the band adaptation of my work of the same title commissioned by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and this version also serves as the final 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