Integrity Fanfare and March Julie Giroux

Integrity First - The first movement of Julie Giroux's symphony, No Finer Calling

SYMPHONY NO. III
No Finer Calling

Jointly commissioned by
The United States Air Force Band of Flight,
Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
Lieutenant Colonel Alan Sierichs, Commander and Conductor
The United States Air Force Academy Band, Peterson AFB, Colorado
Lieutenant Colonel Steven Grimo, Commander and Conductor
The United States Air Force Band of Liberty, Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts
Lieutenant Colonel Larry H. Lang, Commander and Conductor

I. Integrity Fanfare and March -
Integrity First
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Mvt. II. Far from Home -

Service Before Self

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Mvt. III. Honor Above All -

"Excellence in All We Do"

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Program Notes

Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the United States Air Force (1947-2007), No Finer Calling is a symphony in three movements. The movements are individually based on the United States Air Force Core Values. These values, setting a common standard for conduct, were introduced in 1995 and were promulgated throughout the Air Force at every level by the Air Education and Training Command and The United States Air Force Academy. The Core Values are Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence In All We Do.

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I. Integrity Fanfare and March - Integrity First
Integrity, Virtue, Morality, Truthfulness, Accountability and Pride. When I thought of these words as a composer, I heard a fanfare, a processional and a march. Not all at the same time, but more of a melding of all three. A fanfare that states We are here; a procession that states We are prepared; and a march that states Lets GO!

Composer's Notes

This work is dedicated to Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel, USAF (Ret.)

When I was in high school, I had the pleasure of being in two honor bands that had Colonel Arnald D. Gabriel as the conductor. At that time, my friends were playing records of Rod Stewart, Chicago and the Doobie Brothers while I was either composing or spinning vinyls of Dennis Brain, the Chicago Symphony or any concert band recording I could get my hands on. When I got the chance to work with Colonel Gabriel, I was at least bright enough to know that I was in the company of somebody unusual. And for everybody that knows Colonel Gabriel, I am certain we can all agree that he is beyond a doubt, a Breed Apart.

After those honor bands, Colonel Gabriel was added to my personal musical reverence list. While I am composing, I refer to this list and ask myself questions like would they like this? or would they perform it this way? -- you know, questions like that. So unbeknownst to him until now, I have thought of Colonel Gabriel many, many times over the past 28 years.

When I learned that he was going to conduct the premiere of Journey Through Orion, a new band work of mine which was commissioned by the Association of Concert Bands and premiered in the summer of 2006, I was horrified and ecstatic at the same time, an experience that was quickly overshadowed later when I picked up my phone and saw Arnald Gabriel lit up on my caller I.D.

Now, I don't know how many people have a chance to work and become friends with their childhood idols, but for myself, I can only say that it has been one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. In addition to our musical conversations, we have literally spent hours talking about many things. The discussions that I hold dearest are the ones where he has told me about his many experiences in WWII, in Europe as a combat machine gunner with the United States Army's famed 29th Infantry Division. Gabriel received two awards of the Bronze Star Medal in addition to the Combat Infantryman's Badge and the French Croix de Guerre. Arnald was also kind enough to share a number of photos.

Obviously, in print this work is dedicated to Colonel Arnald Gabriel. But for me personally, it is with great adoration and love that I present it.