evolved into a work for soprano saxophone (instead of alto) because of textural considerations and range requests that stretched the upper limits of the alto. As the concerto neared completion, Balmages sent sections of the work to the band and Klock for rehearsal and additional suggestions.


The completed work expresses musically the events leading up to the Apollo tragedy, even including the desperate bangs of the trapped astronauts inside the capsule, and concludes with an expansive expression of gratitude and hope.


The composer and soloist were both present for several days of rehearsals before the premier. According to directors Connell and Vernon, this experience for the students was one of the most remarkable events of their high school years. The students not only assisted in the making of a world-class work of art, but also in creating a work intimately related to them, their parents


Blackwell, brought to Connell an unpublished Beethoven work, a work for large wind band that has been rarely, if ever, performed. The work was Beethoven’s


and their community. “The connection between art and life could have not been more meaningful,” said director Connell, “particularly in having the composer and soloist in residence for several days, expressing their feelings, experiences and thoughts to the students. It was just remarkable for everyone.”


During the period of the commission and its completion, another friend of the Grissom bands, retired musician Wayne


ala breve


Siegessinfonie (Victory Symphony), a composition written for a machine - Johann Maelzel’s Panharmonicon - rather than live musicians (a primary reason for its lack of performances). Blackwell had made an edition (not transcription, as it was already scored for large wind band) for live musicians of this yet unpublished score. Connell immediately said the Grissom bands would be thrilled to premiere the work, providing it wasn’t too difficult (it was authentic and virtuosic Beethoven, after all). The score and parts were delivered, and after some work with the soloists, it was decided to premiere the work along with the


Balmages’ Concerto.


Connell noticed that there was an almost providential aspect in pairing these two works, written so far apart. “The Beethoven was originally written as a ‘Victory’ Symphony,” said Connell, “to celebrate the returning troops of Sir Arthur Wellesley (later the Duke of Wellington) over Napoleon, and it includes an extensive fugue on the British anthem ‘God Save the Queen.’” However, during the night of the premiere, Connell asked the packed


audience in the school auditorium to imagine that Beethoven’s “Victory Symphony” — for that special night — would be a celebration of the “Victory” of the space program over great adversity and challenges during the past four decades, and that the anthem “God Save the Queen,” would, also for this night only, be known as we Americans know it, “My Country ‘tis of Thee,” in honor of those


Americans who


sacrificed all in pursuit of success in the space program.


The concert and both premieres were hugely successful. The band parents and entire community pitched in before the concert providing exhibitions and displays, even including (real!) moon rocks.


Directors Connell and Vernon and soloist Klock say the commissioning project and premieres were significant not only for the students and community, but in their own lives as well. They highly recommend such a project to all their colleagues, and invite any director who might wish more information regarding their project, or either premiere, to contact them at llennoc1@aol.com.


Brian Balmages’ “Concerto for


Soprano Saxophone and Band” with soloist Lynn Klock was recently recorded by the Virginia Winds, led by Dennis Zeisler. A video recording of Beethoven’s “Siegessinfonie” performed by the Grissom High School Band is available at aaaamusic.com.


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