Light the Way (Wind Band Version)

Grade Level: 4

Commission Info: Written for the Concordia College (MN) High School Honor Band, Carl Holmquist, conductor

Duration: 4:30

Audio: YouTube

Published by: C. Alan Publications

Program Note

Light the Way was originally written for string orchestra and commissioned by the Washington-Liberty High School (Arlington, VA). A few years later, the Saratoga High School (Saratoga, CA) performed the piece at the Midwest Clinic and additional, optional parts for percussion and harp were added. A few years after that, the work was adapted for concert band and premiered by the Concordia College (MN) high school honor band. The piece seeks to explore how we can make our way from darkness to light, both in music and in life. It takes both leaders, who are willing to take the first steps towards a brighter future, and followers, who have the courage to, well, follow!

Musically, this happens through both melody and harmony in this piece. We begin with a motive that gets passed down the ensemble, from high voices to low voices. As they all enter with the motive, the harmonies that they create grow darker and thicker, at times with six different notes sounding simultaneously. Then, we hear a phrase of music where chords shift from major (bright) to minor (dark) sonorities. Then the sound grows in dynamic and rhythmic intensity and then the ensemble presents a statement of the iconic folk melody, “Goin’ Home,” which Antonin Dvorak used so iconically in his "Symphony No. 9: From the New World." Finally, the music settles back down and we hear a restatement of the earlier melodic phrase, this time with the major and minor chords inverted. The music comes to a close with an echo of the finalchords of the Dvorak, which also leads the listener through shifting harmonies to a warm and bright finish.