Curtis Melton

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"Event Horizon" is a show that depicts the journey of an excited ship crew in space, ultimately doomed to a dark fate. The show starts off exciting and full of wonder as you set off for adventure.  As you settle into space (Exosphere), you realize that you've left your world behind, but that sadness quickly leaves your mind as you begin to fill with excitement - getting ready to board the ship for new unknown adventures and a new exciting part of your life (Starport). 

Once you have been in deep space for a while, you long for home and you wonder if you'll ever make it back home (No Way Home). 

Suddenly, your nostaglic thoughts are quickly interrupted by the alarms on the ship - an enemy has been spotted and is rapidly approaching (Enemy Combatant). Easily overpowered, easily overwhelmed, your crew sets the ship to warp-speed to fly away as fast as you can.  Little do you know this is the end, and you get lost in space forever as the chase unfolds (Terminal Flight).  As you think it's over and you've gotten away, you've reached the Event Horizon - and are sucked deep into a black hole, never to be seen again.

This show is a nice contrast between uplifting themes and then of course the turn towards a darker tone in the second half of the show.  I hope that you and your students enjoy it!

**Skip to 1:10 in the video for the start of Exosphere.

Event Horizon

Marching Band Score & Parts

"Dark Territory" is a show that depicts a lawman's day and night patrolling a town in the Old West.

We start with our lawman patrolling, dealing with issues as they arise, keeping the peace, and taking on outlaws with a swift hand and dispensing fair justice (Ride Through The Badlands).  Then, after a hard day's work - the life of a frontier lawman can get quite lonely, so we see and hear the lawman's longing for more connectivity to humankind, instead of just dealing with the lawbreakers of society (Solitude On The Range).

He then decides, he wants to get out of his cabin house, and hit the town. We encounter our lawman entering a bar, and all the chaos that ensues in a bar in the Old West; drunkards, bar fights, etc. and this part of the show illustrates the party and the chaos inside the saloon in a hoedown style of music (Lickety Split!)

After the chaos settles, he gets into it with a vagrant in the bar.  The ensuing fight goes to the street, where our lawman has a facedown with an outlaw, with the outcome only left to the listener's imagination; did the lawman prevail?  Or did the outlaw win and ride off to parts unknown? (The Final Showdown).

This show was a ton of fun - heavy on low brass melodies - and an awesome 16-measure segment of the opener in the VERY rare "band key" of F-sharp minor!  It sounds so fresh and unique considering most band music is almost never found in that key.  It will be WELL WORTH your time to teach this to your students; they will become better musicians, and more aware of different notes on their instruments.

"Dark Territory" will be sure to please audiences and students alike!

Dark Territory

"The Everlasting Spirit" is a musical representation of the spirit, lifeforce, enthusiasm, etc. that lives inside all of us. It also can represent the spirit that lives within an organization, a team, a family; the spirit that keeps us united, alive, hopeful; which keeps us moving forward each and every day.

"The Everlasting Spirit" was premiered by the Legacy High School Symphonic Winds in May of 2017. The piece was written as a representation of the energy that continued to live in the 
band program after many years of continued successes, many years of excitement, and many years of memories.

This piece is written in the fresh, uncommon, but beautiful key of concert E major - which is a rarity in band literature. It definitely will challenge the students, but it will also be an uplifting beginning or end to any concert - and it will be rewarding for all, especially for the students, once they learn this key and are able to play the piece!

The Everlasting Spirit

Concert Band Score & Parts

There is a whole other world that opens up at the circus, when the sun goes down, and the daytime crowds have gone home.

This piece is a "rambunctious" depiction of a circus and what happens at night when the circus "really" comes alive. The piece is a whirlwind of activity from start to finish - lots of percussion demands for anyone looking to give their percussion some "meat" to work on - as well as at times throughout, some challenging woodwind parts, and some trombone glissandos and some higher ranges in the trumpets.  It's a fun piece for anyone wishing to add a strong opening or closing to their concert!  

Originally commissioned by the Las Vegas Youth Orchestra Symphonic Band (Mr. Zachary Williams, Conductor) - this piece was a blast to hear premiered in 2022 and I hope it gives you and your students just as much joy to play as it did them (and for my own band as well!)

Circus After Dark

"emotions" is a show that depicts the states of mind someone goes through in the pursuit of a goal in life, no matter how small or big it is.  The opener depicts that initial excitement one has when they set a goal for themselves, and the joy is it to pursue it (The Roaring Flame). This opens with a very "sultry" alto saxophone solo, and I gave my alto saxophonist some liberty in how to interpret it, and he added bends, scoops, etc.  It made it all the more "emotional" and made it really incredible.

The ballad which starts turning dark right after we get out the opener, represents the eventual problems, issues, and things that inevitably get in the way of us reaching our goals, and you start to feel lost, and unsure (Lost Within Your Shadow).  The guitar solo should be a lead sound with strong distortion. I gave my guitar player also some liberty in how she wanted
to interpret it, so she set the guitar pedal patch setting to find just the right distortion sound, and she included a whammy bar to really make it different, and it was just truly incredible.

Then, the third movement represents one desires to push past the obstacles, and reach ones' goals no matter what (Determination To Overcome).  Then finally, the last movement which switches to the rare "band key" of G-flat major, indicates that one has reached their goals, and depicts the excitement, the joy, and the relief of making it. It is the main theme from the opening song, just a half step up - but it makes it sound so fresh, bright, and joyous.

"emotions" is a unique take on this genre of exploring human emotional states, and it will be sure to enterain and draw audiences in!

emotions

"Rising Sun" is a show that evokes imagery of medieval Japan. The imagery starts with a calm and serene prayer by the ocean (Dawn Prayer) before the samurais go to battle (Samurai Combat). The music immediately picks up speed and intensity as the journey to the battle begins. Once the battle starts, all bets are off as the samurais fight hard for their honor and for those they love and cherish.

After the battle, the samurais mourn the losses of those brave souls who perished bravely in battle (The Fallen).  Once the grieving for their brothers in combat concludes, the samurais find new hope, and new ambition as they conquer their fears and win the next battle, and fight on to see another day (Conquest).

"Rising Sun" has opportunities for two soloists, namely a flute and a trumpet, and but feel free to transpose the solos or assign them for any instrumentalist you wish to feature. This show was a lot of fun for my students to play and perform when I first got to Legacy High School in the summer of 2013 when I was tasked to build the program from scratch.

I sincerely hope that your students will also find joy and excitement in performing RISING SUN!!!

If you ever have any questions about this show at anytime, please feel free to reach out to me at cmeltonmusic01@gmail.com.

Rising Sun

"Fear, Incorporated" is a show that explores the concept of horror, fear, uncertainty, and darkness.  The opening movement (Secret Terror) draws you in immediately with an in-your-face statement from the whole band, and the music immediarely then goes into a dark uncertain feeling. The opener then climaxes to a heavy rock beat and then the main theme repeats again in a LOWER key, which is unique as most key changes go into a higher key - further adding to the feeling that "this music is going to take weird twists and turns", just like a horror movie would.

The ballad starts uneasy as you then enter a dream sequence - the beginning of the ballad emulates the feeling of spinning out of control, sort of a "fever dream" feeling as you become delirious and uncertain again, about where the music is headed. This section features a harpsichord patch on a keyboard which gives it a little "Addams Family" flair - and then the ballad peaks in a new key and also is set in a sort of "rock feel".

Then the next movement is when you're in a nightmare chase scene and it seems no matter how fast you are running, you can't escape (Nightmare Run).  The pit/drumline break further devolves the nightmare you're having,  as the unknown entity chasing you actually catches up with you.

Then the closer (Vanished Without A Trace) is when you wake up from the nightmare (or so you think) - and you aren't sure what is a nightmare anymore and what is reality. Then you just seem to disappear, with no traces of you left for anyone to find. What was real? What was a dream? What was just a simple bout of delirium?  You get so far into the horror and terror in your own mind, that you can't tell.

This show is sure to thrill audiences and the students will have a lot of fun with it!!

Fear, Incorporated

"Skywaves" is a show that depicts the freedom of flight.  The opener emulates the feeling of being free, flying through the air, no worries, no stress, no sadness. It's the feeling of being able to fly high above any problems, any sadness - to just fly free (Flying Through My Dreams).  The major ninth chords throughout this movement emulates a dreamscape with dreamy 
chords and a hopeful sound.

Then you get high in the air, and you realize how calm, serene, everything is at a high altitude (Where The Air Is Calm).  Then, inevitably, you encounter issues with your dream flight, and the dream seems like it's turning for the worse (Descending Altitude).  You then go through the storm, you fly through, and then you land back on the ground, having landed in a better, peaceful, beautfiul place (Weathering The Storm, Arriving In Paradise).

This music is very uplifting, calming, with a fun "rock-out" section during Decending Altitude, and then the soaring finale.  This music was one of mine and my bands' favorites we've done - I hope it will bring you and your students joy as well!

Skywaves

"Bioluminescence" is a show that is literally about light - and how powerful light is, and how it illuminates our world and our lives in many different ways.

The opener (Illuminated Shadows) depicts the idea of light taking away the darkness. It's full of energy and it also has a very distinct section in the key of concert A major - which is rare in the band world, but so fresh-sounding and well worth the effort to teach the students this key.  It again, emulates shining light onto the darkness.

The ballad (Firefly Lullaby) is meant to depict dancing fireflies in the darkness. The lone clarinet solo against the keyboard accompaniment gives a very peaceful feeling, and then the full band comes in on the same melody once the solo concludes. The ballad is in another "rare band key" of G-flat concert - with a key change to D-flat concert. Very expressive, very beautiful, with a tranquil trumpet solo at the end to conclude the ballad.

The third movement (Incandescent Beams) I had my own students use 1000-lumen flashlights and we did a choreographed visual to the groove the drumline/pit laid down. It was super cool and the audience during this movement and Firefly shined their phone lights back at us! It was really an awesome audience participation show that got the audience involved.

Finally, the fourth movement (Wavelengths in Motion) opens with a heroic and soaring brass fanfare.  If you have a strong brass section - let them rip it and let them have fun with it.  The show ends strong in D-flat major and it ends with a hopeful and uplifting feeling at the end - to signify the power of light and illumination.

"Bioluminescence" is an uplifting and happy show in so many ways, and it will be sure to impress your audiences!

Bioluminescence

A lush, dark, yet hopeful expressive piece that features a flute, trumpet, alto saxophone, and a brief clarinet solo at the very end.  This piece also requires a pianist to cover the very important piano part throughout the piece.

This piece was dedicated to the Legacy High School Bands of 2019-20, 2020-21, and 2021-22 - for pushing through the tough online year of 2020-21, losing the rest of the 2019-20 year, and our huge return in 2021-22 after the pandemic. This piece was meant originally to express to the students on 2020 that they were candles in a dark room, offering light and hope in the world.  It just meant even that much more, when we finally got to premiere the piece in 2022....they all were truly were the "light" that got me and everyone through what was a tough time in our world.

The piece heavily utliizes major and minor ninth chords - the lush harmonies are gorgeous and will really showcase beautiful expressive playing.  The second part of the piece is in concert B major - a rarity in the band music world, but such a fresh-sounding key and well worth the time to teach the students.

This can be a beautiful tribute piece or celebration piece, or if you just want an expressive piece to go on your program.  It was a touching end to our 2021-22 year, and I hope that anyone who programs it will also enjoy performing this piece.

The Candle In The Window

A lush, beautiful expressive piece set in the "rare" band key of concert E major. Perfect for an expressive moment in your program; "Every Second The Rain Falls" was dedicated to the Legacy High School Band Program of 2023-24 - to musically depict all the memories our band had with the rain.  We had football game rain, Fisherman's Wharf rain, monsoon thunderstorms during band camp which made us have to run inside really quick! (lol) - but what sounds like would be a "pain" to deal with - wasn't a "pain" at all.  Performances and such in the rain ended up becoming special memories for all of us.  This piece depicts the memories we all share, and how much fun we had in the rain.  I will always think of the Legacy Band  program and these students - for "every second" that the rain falls.

A lushly scored, while featuring a number of brief solos throughout the band and a haunting piano outro, this piece will definitely touch your audience, and hopefully hold meaning for you and your students as well.

Every Second The Rain Falls

"Tropical Escape" is a show that depicts being lost in the jungle - with no way out - attempting to find civilization.

The opening is loud, in-your-face - and it grabs attention. It depicts the immediate realization of the danger one is in, lost in a thick, humid jungle, and this depicts the inital push to find your way out (Out Of The Silence). The struggle continues, and then everntually you give up, not seeing the way out, feeling like you have run out of time.

The realization of this hits you as the sun begins to go down, and you find yourself crying, sad, hopeless, and scared (Lost In The Dark).

Then in the midst of the darkness of the night, you hear a prowling animal in the not-so-far distance. You are alarmed, and realize, you are being stalked in the dark by an unknown predator (Hunted).

Finally, you escape the predator, but you are so lost, delirium is kicking in, and you realize there is no way out. You realize this is your new home, and this is reality: you are forever lost in the hot, dense, dark jungle (Eternal Summer).

Tropical Escape

"Night Shift" is a show that emulates the detective on his/her beat in a major city after nighfall.  The show starts dark and gritty with the opening Gm9 chord with the melody starting on that 9th (Restless Twilight). This opener just sets the stage for musically illustrating a police detective patrolling the city for crime.

The second movement is depicting the detective driving at night, cruising the streets, looking to dispense justice to those who will run afoul of the law (Under The Streetlights).  It also sets the scene of a dark, rainy, cool evening as the lights above you whizz by.

The third movement picks up tempo when the detective finds a perp and goes after them (In Hot Pursuit).  Then, once the city comes alive after nightfall - we find our detective among the vibrant and varying city life under the lights of the moon and the city itself (Feeling The Heat).  The closing number is influenced by New Jack Swing style of the early 1990s - so have fun 
with it and just rock it out!!!

This show is a lot of fun to play - more of a traditonal opener to a cut-time groove, into the New Jack Swing feel at the end - this show has a lot of variety and it's a lot of fun to play!  Night Shift will have your audiences rocking out!

Night Shift

"Cascading Memories" was dedicated to the Legacy High School Band and Color Guard Program for the 2024-25 school year.  It was written to depict the memories that we all shared together, especially, all of the memories that we all shared for the previous 4 years since getting back from the "all-online" year.  The four-year period from 
2021-2025 will always live in my heart forever, as some incredible memories have come out of this time period with these students and this band and colorguard program.

This piece is expressive with thick harmonies and lush and rich chords structure. There are many opportunities for expressive teaching, and any band will sound very beautiful performing this piece as there are no extreme range requirements or anything of that nature.  The piece lays out comfortably in range, key, and will be a beautiful addition to any concert or festival performance.

Cascading Memories

This lush and broad piece is very expressive, and is block-scored with rich chord structure throughout. The piece does not expose any one particular section, as all of the melodic lines are doubled with other instruments, so it is a fantastic work to perform where everyone is playing pretty much the entire time. There are tons of opportunities for expressive teaching, and any band will sound very beautiful performing this piece.  

The title "When You Close Your Eyes" depicts someone who is either dreaming, reflecting, or otherwise just taking a minute to gather their thoughts and emotions.

I hope you and your students enjoy the reflective and dreamlike feel of this piece.  If you have any questions about this piece at any time, please email me at  cmeltonmusic01@gmail.com.

When You Close Your Eyes

"Mirage" is a show that depicts a person who has gotten lost in the open desert, with nothing but sand and sun everywhere they look.

The opening sets the tone (Isolation), you're lost, you're stranded, there's nowhere to turn. You begin to feel despair as to what to do next.....but then the heat starts affecting you and you start to experience delirium. You begin to hallucinate, and you begin to see the shadows on the grounf begin to dance, you begin to dance with them - thankful that you have found someone in the lonliness of the desert, but it's all an illusion (Shadow Dance).

Then, as the sun sets, you start to realize that it was all hallucinations, and you are seeing the gorgeous sunset in the desert, still wondering what to do next as night falls in the desert (Afterglow).  The next movement (Sun Mask) explores the idea of hallucinating creatures wearing masks, all sorts of hallucinations, etc. the next morning as you really are losing touch with reality.

Finally, you're lost, you're hopeless for any kind of rescue, and as you're pondering your next move, a fierce and violent storm rolls in (Monsoon), and then you succumb to the elements.

Mirage

"Urbanicity" is a show that depicts the bustling life in the big city.  The show starts out with the heavy traffic and chaos (The Morning Rush), complete with the band emulating car crashes and horns honking with lots of clashing notes and chords. There is a brief swing section which should be swung hard! Then, the traffic dies down, and we get to cruise in our cars calmly along the beach (Sunset Cruisin').

After the work day is concluded and the sun sets, the city really comes alive - with the parties getting going throughout town (After Hours).  Then, after that is over, disgruntled employees decide that they have had enough of the daily grind, and decide that they want to go on strike (Sanitation Strike).  The show then ends with a brief shout in 7/8 time, to signal that the strike is over, and life will contine onward the next day in the city as usual.

A fast-paced, exciting, upbeat show - "Urbanicity" is sure to please audiences all over!

Urbanicity

"Forever Through The Fire" illustrates the idea of overcoming obstacles in one's life, and the feelings you have emerging out of the trials that you've experienced. It depicts the feelings one has when they overcome a  problem. overcome a loss, or a hard trial in one's life. The feelings of relief and contentment are powerful, and once you realize you're through it, you emerge stronger.  The desire to keep pushing forward is powerful, and it can be life-changing.

"Forever Through The Fire" was premiered by the Legacy High School Symphonic Winds in May of 2016. It was dedicated directly to the students of the band program that year as a personal thank you and show of gratitude from myself; for not only being amazing students, but inspiring students that changed my life forever. The performance that night was an emotional one that I (and many of the students) will never forget.

I hope you and your students will enjoy performing this piece! The piece will challenge the students in the climax of the piece with the key change to concert A major, but - it will be well worth the time spent on it, especially in a key that they don't see very often in other band literature.

Forever Through The Fire

Open or close your next concert with this dash of freshness!!  This piece in the rare "band key" of concert B-major definitely sounds fresh and invigorating!  This fanfare is nicely scored - lots of block scoring, and lots of energy abound in this fanfare about always pushing for your best.  The key change to concert D-flat raises the feel of the piece even more - and gives your players a nice challenge in playing in not-so-typical keys written for the band.  You and your audience will certainly enjoy this fresh take on the fanfare style!

Rise To The Occasion

This beautiful, lush expressive piece is a perfect slow piece to accentuate your concert or festival program. It features mallet percussion in some of the accompaniment figures,and it is mostly block scoring, which is great for younger bands. This piece has a reflective, nostalgic feel - perfect for when you want to celebrate something or someone in a beautiful way.  Perfect for any band to hone their expressive playing abilities!

The Next Chapter

Global Sections - CORE [DO NOT TOUCH]*

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