This special program’s first half is a musical commemoration for 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on our country (Memories). The second half (Inspirations) presents positive music pointing to an optimistic future.

The program begins optimistically with Adrian Sims’ colorful Inspiration Fanfare, music depicting joy and opportunity.

The program’s feature work is Eric Ewazen’s A Hymn for the Lost and Living, written shortly after 9/11. Ewazen had been teaching at the Julliard School in Manhattan on that morning and witnessed the streets full of silent people, all quickly heading to their homes. But by the following Friday, Ewazen observed multitudes of people holding candles, singing songs, and gathering in front of memorials paying tribute to the lost. This emotional work portrays those painful days following 9/11 as a memorial for those lost souls, gone from this life, but forever treasured in our memories.

American composer Samuel Barber wrote Funeral March in 1943 while serving in the United States Army Air Corps (now the Air Force). The work is a fantasy on the U.S. Army Air Corps song “Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder”.

The “Memories” portion of the concert concludes with Eric Whitacre’s Sleep. Originally composed as a choral work in memory of a friend’s parents who died within weeks of each other, Whitaker subsequentially transcribed this version for wind bands assisted by RVSB’s director William Berz.

The “Inspiration” portion begins with James Swearingen’s Blue Ridge Saga, reflecting the beauty and history of the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Frank Ticheli’s Joy Revisited expresses the feelings experienced by one expectant father on one wonderfully anxious and exciting day. Percy Grainger’s Spoon River is based on a classic American fiddle tune performed at country dances.

Jay Bacook’s arrangement of music from the award-winning series Game of Thrones includes musical themes from “The Rains of Castamere” and “The Winds of Winter” as well as the title theme.

The concert concludes with two arrangements from John William’s futuristic Star Wars compositions: Cantina Band featuring the iconic Cantina theme, and Michael Brown’s arrangement of music from The Last Jedi.

RVSB comprises about 70 musicians from the northern and central New Jersey area. Band membership includes professional musicians and music educators, as well as amateur musicians ranging in age from high school through retirees.

Music Director William Berz is Professor Emeritus at Rutgers University where he served on the faculty for 42 years and was Director of the Music department for 11 years.

This concert is funded, in part, by a grant from the Somerset County Cultural and Heritage Commission.