Victory Rossano Galante

CD Jules Verne on the moon

Victory: achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties.

When approached by Lake Braddock High School to compose a piece for them, and to whom it is dedicated, they recommended that I watch the inspirational speech by James Anthony Valvano, Head Coach of the basketball team of North Carolina State University. The speech was given three years after his retirement at the ESPY Awards in 1993, where he was accepting the inaugural Arthur Ashe Courage and Humanitarian Award.

To me, there are three things we all should do every day. We should do this every day of our lives. Number one is laugh. You should laugh every day. Number two is think. You should spend some time in thought. And number three is, you should have your emotions moved to tears, could be happiness or joy. But think about it. If you laugh, you think and you cry, that's a full day.

He then announced the creation of The V Foundation for Cancer Research, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for cancer and told the audience that the foundation's motto would be: Don't give up Don't ever give up.

He gave this speech less than two months before his own death from cancer.

It was his three keys words, laugh, think and cry that stayed with me and helped formulate the structure for Victory.

Victory is comprised of two main themes. The opening melodic statement depicts joyous laughter and happiness incorporating soaring, sweeping melodic lines (laugh). The second theme uses lyrical melodies representing sadness and tears (cry). The last thematic statement is in 7/8 meter and is a rhythmic adaptation of the opening theme and evokes a feeling of deep thought (think). The piece culminates in a grandiose recapitulation of the main theme.