Fantasia on Slane

"Fantasia on Slane" is based on the Irish folk tune "Slane", also known as the hymn "Be Thou My Vision". This piece was originally written for orchestra, but this version has been beautifully transcribed for concert band by Joe Clark. I wrote this piece to help myself cope with my grandfather’s passing. He became ill in December of 2022 and slowly recovered enough to get out of the hospital and into assisted living. However, his health began to decline again about a year later and he passed away in February of 2024. This piece was written over the course of that time. It began at the piano the night I heard he was admitted to the hospital. When I heard his health was declining again, I felt like I needed to revisit the piece and finalize the work. I finished the arrangement the night before he passed. My hope for this piece is that it will help others get through their tough times, whether it be the passing of a loved one or any other major life crisis.