The Echo Never Fades David R. Gillingham

The Echo Never Fades is an absolute gem! Don't overlook this when looking for a moving and memorable work. The touching melody is used to feature several soloists between creative and impelling contrasting sections. It's what we've grown to expect from this gifted and talented composer.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 4 | Duration: 7:00

Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1/2
Oboe 1/2
Bassoon 1/2
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2/3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1/2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2/3
Horn 1/2
Horn 3/4
Trombone 1/2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba

Piano

Timpani
Percussion 1 (bells, xylophone) Percussion 2 (vibraphone, suspended cymbal, chimes)
Percussion 3 (4.3-octave marimba, 2 toms, tam tam)

Program Notes
Taking on the task of composing a piece of music in memory of someone who has passed can be a formidable one. When James Kull, conductor of the St. Charles East High School Wind Ensemble in St. Charles, Illinois, called me and asked if I would write a work such as this, I was reluctant. I closed the conversation by saying I would think it over. In the days that followed I began to receive e-mails from students about the loss of their friend, Tyler Caruso. They shared their grief and their fondest memories of a young man who was highly regarded by his peers and by the community. I was truly moved and agreed to write a piece of music which would honor and pay tribute to the memory of such a fine human being. After starting work on the piece last month, I received an e-mail from Tyler's mother, Marilyn Caruso, who attache information on the Tyler Bell Caruso Memorial Scholarship. This gave me the final piece of information that helped me put this work together. And, most recently, the title came as a suggestion from a friend of Tyler's, who found the phrase, "the echo never fades" in a poem written by Tyler. The members of the wind ensemble unanimously agreed that this would be a wonderful and appropriate title for the work.

The melody, sung by the alto saxophone at the beginning of the work, comprises the sole melodic material of the work. This represents "Tyler's theme" and seems to be apropos as Tyler played the alto saxophone. The melody is filled with warmth, which I hope expresses Tyler Caruso's character. From the onset of the work, one should notice that this is not an elegy for Tyler, but an expression of admiration and celebration of his life. The alto saxophone melody segues into a proud and courageous statement (derived from the theme) played dramatically by the brass with the woodwinds answering with phrases of Tyler's theme. Tyler was a leader in both the school and the community and the music of this section expresses that leadership. Following is a key change and a joyous statement of "Tyler's theme" by the full ensemble, representing the many people whose lives were touched by Tyler - a loving celebration. A piano solo follows with a sentimental rendition of the "Tyler theme", followed by the full ensemble with a sort of closing idea based on the theme. The work closes with the alto saxophone again singing the theme with echoes in the flutes, bells and vibraphone followed by heavenly ascending chords in the piano leading to a final and peaceful ending in C major.

- David R. Gillingham