Emeritus

Emeritus is a musical gesture of heartfelt thanks to William Webb, and his predecessor, Ed Melichar, for their remarkable contributions to the band program at Edina High School (Minnesota). Theirs is a legacy of enthusiasm, musicianship, and love that has profoundly impacted the lives of generations of students.
The piece begins with a soft, lyrical melody delivered by the clarinet section, as Mr. Melichar was a clarinet player. That melody is then passed to the brass (Mr. Webb is a trumpet player) who present the material in a fanfare setting. The tempo then picks up, as a summer wind moving the waters of a Minnesota lake. Then the piece takes a walk down the memory lane of a band director, as echoes of Johannes Hanssen's iconic Norwegian March, Valdres, and both Suites for Military Band of Gustav Holst are woven through a set of variations on the melody that we first heard from the clarinets at the beginning of the piece.
The music then takes a turn through moments of darkness, harshness, and ambiguity, as we reflect on the challenges that we face along life's journey and the fact that even the greatest careers must come to an end. But this struggle is, in itself, a transition. The tension and dissonance give way to the brilliant, moving and loving power that only music can convey. The band swells to an emotional close, revisiting the old favorites in combination with that opening melody that we first heard in the clarinets.