A Promise to Stand By:
Concert Band - Digital Sheet Music

Concert Band - Digital Download

SKU: A0.733009

Composed by Benjamin Ayotte. Contemporary. 30 pages. Ayotte Custom Musical Engravings #2075851. Published by Ayotte Custom Musical Engravings (A0.733009).

"A promise to stand by..." this phrase indicate loyalty, steadfastness, being a man of one's word, knowing that integrity and honor are the enduring qualities by which we will be judged; not fame, fortune, influence, or other worldly measures. It is no surprise, therefore, that this phrase was incorporated by Lou Fortunate and Msgr Herman Kucyk, of blessed memory, into the alma mater of Divine Child High School. When I was approached by Mr. Bush and the Divine Child Band Boosters about the possibility of writing a piece to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the band program I was excited, flattered, and--most of all--humbled that I should be chosen out of many worthier candidates, in my estimation. Divine Child has had, for the longest time--since the beginning, it seems--a vibrant and thriving fine arts program involving music (both vocal and instrumental), theatre, and the visual arts as well as literature and poetry. I began to conceive of a work that would pay homage to each of these arts musically and be a celebration of all that Divine Child has to offer. One of my favourite composers, Gustav Mahler, famously said, "a symphony must be like the world; it must contain everything." In the 1988 vice-presidential debate, Lloyd Bentsen famously said to Dan Quayle, "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy." A voice in my head said, "Benjamin, you're no Gus Mahler." As the discarded drafts in the recycle bin took on a life of their own, I eventually dismissed the idea as impractical, and even vainglorious. I settled upon a more general idea to make the music about the band program. Most every student in the band program goes through the rigors of marching band and performs at the Falcon football games where they become intimate with the Three School Songs: the Falcon Fanfare, the Fight Song, and the Alma Mater. Taking the latter piece as my inspiration, I meditated upon the mission of the school: a promise to educate us in body, mind, and spirit. Divine Child High School stands by her promise, recruiting some of the best teachers in the area to guide us through the tumultuous adolescent years. We students, too, have a promise: to strive to be worthy of this gift, and to accept it and use it for the betterment of society. In band class, under Leo Tallieu, I learned to listen; to contribute to the group; to consider my part in relation to the whole ensemble; to show leadership when needed; and to be a role player when needed. And so, my conception of the piece changed. I wanted to use melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic devices that would be familiar to all DCHS band students, but to use them in a new and different way; to recontextualize them. As time went on, Bob Bush asked me if I would be able to work in a tribute to two band students who had tragically died in the last few years: Blaise H.