Amen! Frank Ticheli

Alternative Artikelnummer: MBM183367

I composed Amen! as a retirement gift to my lifelong friend, Tracy McElroy, in celebration of his lifelong achievements after thirty years of teaching instrumental music in Texas public schools. Back in the 1970s in Richardson, Tracy and I played trumpet together in the Berkner High School Band, forging a close friendship that lasts to this day. Tracy's teaching to generations of young people instilled in them not only his deep love of music, but his values of personal discipline and teamwork. His life's work epitomized the contributions of thousands of music educators in this country whose gifts to our society are enormous, perhaps incalculable.

Amen! takes on an upbeat, somewhat bluesy, gospel style, suggesting an impassioned preacher sharing some bit of good news. After an introductory call to order, our preacher (here depicted by the clarinet section) gives us the main tune over a series of simple, bopping quarter-note chords. Later, the full ensemble bursts out in a fit of joy the choir and congregation have joined in, dancing and shouting in full agreement. The good new is driven home in the concluding coda over a series of plagal (Amen) chord progressions, and one final joyful shout.

- Program Note by composer