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The profile of Gala Flagello in a checkered dress with her eyes closed turning away from the camera.
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Love & Nature

Year Composed

2024

Duration

10:00

Instrumentation

Piccolo, flute 1-2, oboe 1-2, clarinet 1-3, bass clarinet, bassoon 1-2, optional soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone, horn 1-2, trumpet 1-3, trombone 1-3, euphonium, tuba, piano, timpani, percussion 1-4

Price:

Under consortium exclusivity - use purchase link to be added to a mailing list to be contacted when study scores are available for purchase (December 2024)

Program Notes

Love & Nature (2024) was commissioned by a consortium of wind bands led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and explores how love prevails through cosmic lore, social movements, and mercurial mythos. Each of the work's three movements connect a different instrumental sound world to the concepts of earth, air, and fire, depicting a blossoming of kindness and hope for the future of our planet. The first movement, "Flower Power," is inspired by the titular social movement of the 1960s–1970s and sonically critiques the juxtaposition of fragility and strength, beauty and utility, and nonviolence and force. "Flower Power" reflects the ethos of Marc Riboud's iconic photograph The Ultimate Confrontation: The Flower and the Bayonet and incorporates a musical Easter egg—a countermelody for counterculture. The second movement, "Star-Crossed," summons the hope, whimsy, and longing of its ill-fated protagonists through celestial textures and luminous scoring. The third and final movement, "Slow Burn," explores both versions of the titular literary trope—romantic and anger-fueled—through the arboraceous lens of controlled fire, an originally indigenous practice that mitigates the drought-driven effects of climate change. "Slow Burn" foregrounds bright and wooden sounds to pay homage to our forests and the necessity of ecological restoration.


Special thanks to Kim Fleming, Christi Blahnik, Rachel Zephir, Ashley Killam, Ancel "Fitz" Neeley, Michael Avitabile, Sagar Anupindi, Allison Chu, and Hannah Hickman for their guidance during the writing of this work. And Pete Williams: to the moon and back. Endless gratitude to the bands whose support has made Love & Nature a reality.

Additional Information

Grade 4-5


Movements:

I. Flower Power (Duration: 3')

II. Star-Crossed (Duration: 4')

III. Slow Burn (Duration: 3')


Percussion included:

Percussion 1: Bass drum, suspended cymbal, xylophone

Percussion 2: Snare drum, triangle, 4-octave marimba

Percussion 3: Vibraphone, 2 toms (low and high)

Percussion 4: Kick drum, glockenspiel, 2 wood blocks (low and high)


Love & Nature Consortium Members

Consortium Lead: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Kimberly Fleming

Appalachian State University, Jason Gardner and John Stanley Ross

Arkansas State University, Nick Balla

Augustana College (IL), James M. Lambrecht

Baylor University, Isaiah Odajima

Brooklyn Wind Symphony, Jeff W. Ball

Butler University, Trae Blanco

Dartmouth College, Brian Messier

Eastern Michigan University, Mary Schneider and J. Nick Smith

Elon University, Jonathan Poquette and Herb Payung

Florida State University, Rodney Dorsey

Formation Wind Band, Anne Kreider-Hughes and Erin Keeton-Howard

Governor Mifflin High School, Andrew Cusano

Indiana State University, Eric Scott

Ithaca College, Daniel Cook

Keene State College, John T. Hart Jr.

Kennesaw State University, David Kehler

Kentucky Wesleyan College, Patrick Stuckemeyer

Michigan State University, Kevin Sedatole and David Thornton

Montana State University, Nathan Stark

Montclair State University, Thomas McCauley

Morehead State University, DuWayne C. Dale

Northwestern University, Mallory Thompson

Oakland University, Gregory Cunningham and Pam Klena

Oregon State University, Erik Leung

Piedmont Wind Symphony, Mark Norman

Purdue University Fort Wayne, Daniel Tembras

Rowan University, Joseph Higgins

Southeastern Louisiana University, Robert Schwartz

SUNY New Paltz, Adam Fontana

SUNY Potsdam, Brian Doyle

Temple University, Patricia Cornett

The United States Air Force Band, Col. Don Schofield

The United States Coast Guard Band, CDR Adam Williamson

Tom and Denise Hedlund

University of Alabama in Huntsville, Jack Hontz

University of Central Missouri, Corey Seapy

University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Brian Kaufman

University of Michigan, Jason Fettig and Courtney Snyder

University of Mississippi, Tim Oliver, Randy Dale, and Mel Morse

University of Missouri, Brian A. Silvey, Amy M. Knopps, and Christian M. Noon

University of Missouri Kansas City, Steve Davis and Joe Parisi

University of Missouri-St. Louis, David Wacyk

University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Jonathan Caldwell

University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Mark Norman

University of North Carolina Wilmington, Dominic Talanca

University of North Texas, Amy Woody

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Jerianne Larson

University of Virginia, Elliott Tackitt

University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, John R. Stewart

University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Thomas Gamboa

Vienna Community Band, Christian Folk

Virginia Tech, Derek Shapiro

Wake Forest University, Timothy Heath and Natalie Smith

Youth Performing Arts School, Kevin Callihan

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