Civic Celebration

I was inspired to write Civic Celebration for the Holyoke Civic Symphony after hearing the concert where the Symphony played my Susquehanna Sunset. I was quite impressed by the verve and commitment evident in all the performances on the program and by the loyalty and support shown the Symphony by the people from the community who came to hear it.

Civic Celebration is offered as a tribute to the Holyoke Civic Symphony on its 50th anniversary. It has a kind of exuberant nobility, as befitting both the occasion and the spirit with which the Symphony and its director pursue their mission. Civic Celebration gives everyone in the orchestra something important to contribute – even instruments not normally in the forefront, like piccolo and triangle, play crucial roles.

The piece begins and ends with a fanfare. In between, there are two themes – both based on the fanfare – which are explored sequentially and then combined.