Jerry Kracht

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<p>The murder of George Floyd, under the knee of a police officer in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020, set off a nationwide reaction. There were protests, both peaceful and violent, prayers, vigils, and calls for prosecutions. Many sought solace in music, as so often happens in moments of national tragedy. This work, composed in response shortly after the event, reflects in unremitting sadness the pain felt by so many at the time. Its persistent use of the notes G and F and the specific duration of 8'46" pay tribute to details that should never be forgotten. Its final note, unresolved, seems to call out, "Never again!" The work was premiered in 2021, Tacoma, Washington, by the Pacific Lutheran University Symphony Orchestra Strings, Jeffrey Bell-Hanson conducting.</p>

G. F. 8'46"

String Orchestra Score & Parts

Ensemble

Instrument Family

Several serendipities led to the composition of this little duo, including the name of the person who commissioned it: Dileep.  Hence, the play on words in the title, and the playful nature of the piece overall.  Lighthearted banter characterizes the friendly interchanges between flute and clarinet in the outer sections, with a more serious, slower middle section to contrast.  Tonal and tuneful throughout.  Duration just shy of five minutes.

Serendileepitous Duo

Flute/Clarinet Duet

Voice

Voice Category

The Christmas story, as related in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 2, is the only Biblical account of Christ's birth that mentions the Star of Bethlehem.  "For we have seen his star in the East," the wise men say in verse 2, "and are come to worship him."  What a "signum mirabile" that sighting must have seemedwhat a "wonderful sign!"  This work, adopting the name Signum mirabile, for tenor soloist, SATB chorus and orchestra, traces the wise men as they follow the star with great hope, first to Jerusalem, then through their troubling encounter with King Herod, and finally on to Bethlehem and the Christ child.  The chorus and soloist tell the story according to Matthew's unique account, while the orchestra lends color and drama.  At the journey's end, the music breaks forth with Martin Luther's joyful nativity hymn, "From heaven above to earth I come."  A fitting new cantata for the Christmas season!  (Duration 10')

Signum mirabile

SATB Full Score

The British-style brass band with its unique sound, born of its emphasis on conical-bored instruments, has become popular the world over.  In this case it was a Seattle such organization, Puget Brass, that inspired this fun exploration of fanfares and flourishes.  Commissioned by Puget Brass director Philip Tschopp, the work was premiered by them in Seattle in 2023 and repeated there a year later in 2024.  Fanfares and flourishes galore, interspersed with a few whistle-worthy melodies, build to a brief "off the rails" moment, but a few bars of "serious" music bring things back under control and all ends well with a quick and catchy coda.  About 5'30" duration.

Fanfares and Flourishes

Brass Band Score & Parts

A poem by the late American poet Miller Williams (1930-2015), "A Poem for Emily" (Imperfect Love, 1986), details the poet's touching contemplations at the birth of baby Emily and what the future might hold. Williams' "Emily" becomes "E[rin]mily" in the title of this musical setting as it references the composer's own daughter, Erin, for whom this music was written.  Hints of atonality mix with tonal underpinnings as the music follows Williams' text, used by permission, courtesy of Louisiana State University Press.  Flute, Clarinet in Bb and Mezzo-soprano.  Approximately 7 minutes duration.

A Poem for E[rin]mily

Flute/Clarinet Trio

A winter getaway in Southern California's Coacella Valley resulted in this six-movement suite for brass quintet--one movement each for six of the valley's most popular destination cities:  Palm Springs Promenade; Cathedral City Chorale (and Alleluia); Rancho Mirage Minuet; Palm Desert Pastorale; Indian Wells Waltz; and La Quinta Carnaval.  The city names inspired the alliterative titles.  The titles inspired the music!  Total performance time c. 20'.  Individual movements can be played separately or in any combination.

Coacella Valley Suite

Brass Quintet

This duet for the rather unusual combination of flute and trombone was commissioned by two talented, young musicians who wanted to make music together on their instruments.  They asked for something "fun, challenging, and maybe a little crazy!"  It is, by turns, dramatic, thoughtful, light-hearted, lyrical, tender and sweet.  And, thanks to a cadenza that turns mock-competitive, it is, indeed, "a little crazy," as it requires a bit of acting from both players, plus a surprise appearance of a slide whistle in D!  All ends well, though, with both participants still good friends at the end!  Performance time approximately 9 minutes.  Anticipating performance from score rather than individual parts, the score has been formatted to facilitate page turns.

The Dollar Duet

Duet

Martin Luther (1483-1546), founder of the Protestant Reformation and the Lutheran Church, once wrote: "Next to the word of God, the noble art of music is the greatest treasure in the world."  Thus, music seems an entirely fitting way to celebrate his life.  And, as the 500th anniversary of the Lutheran  Reformation was being observed the world over in 2017, this work came into being, its seven scenes recalling seven singularly significant events in Luther's dramatic and world-changing life.  The score incorporates both music original to this work and adaptations of music from Luther's own time, including one of his own best-known and most beloved hymns, "A Mighty Fortress is our God."   The work was premiered in 2017 by Brass Reflections in Lynnwood, Washington.  It was recorded a year later by Lyric Brass of Pacific Lutheran University on the album "Luther 501," available on Spotify.  Duration approximately 29 minutes.

Luther

Instrument Type

This Soliloquy for Alto Saxophone and String Orchestra was written in memory of the renowned American classical saxophone soloist and teacher, Eugene Rousseau, who died on August 26, 2024, at the age of 92.  His extraordinary artistry was exceeded only by his kindness and gentle encouragement to the countless students he mentored over the years, the composer of this little piece among them. The music here is nothing profound and really nothing new.  It is, in a word, sweetjust the kind of simple piece that Eugene Rousseau could make eloquent and expressive far beyond its notes.  Of moderate difficulty for soloist and strings alike.  Total performance time approximately 5'30".

Soliloquy

Alto Sax Score

Making music with dear friends creates memories worth celebrating, even decades after the fact!  Such was the inspiration behind this little "burlesque," written to celebrate the friendship and many musical adventures enjoyed by the composer and three of his long-ago colleagues and musical partners--three Davids--whose instruments provided the somewhat unusual instrumentation for this little tribute piece: harpsichord, cello, and percussion.  As you can guess from the subtitle, it's not to be taken too seriously.  And, likewise, you might not be surprised to find a few allusions to Richard Strauss within its motifs.  Made for fun, remembering fun!  Duration approximately 8 minutes.

Three Davids

Keyboard Accompaniment Trio

A Father's Day gathering with the composer's three adult children inspired this three-movement symphony celebrating the individual talents and passions of the three, one movement for each.  A writer/artist, an entrepreneur (who loves cars), and a nurse result in movements entitled "Storyteller," "On the Road," and "Caregiver," with music tailored accordingly--dramatic and colorful, driving and exciting, sweet and loving.  Highly personal, yet broadly experienced.  Full symphony orchestra.  26 minutes duration.

A Father's Fortune

Full Orchestra Full Score

On the small island of San Giulio in Lake Orta, Italy, near the island's center, stands the twelfth-century Basilica di San Giulio with a quiet, cobbled pathway around it, "La via del silenzio" (The Way of Silence).  Along the way, ten way-posts remind travelers of the following:  "Listen to the silence.  Listen to the water, the wind, your steps . . .  In the silence you accept and understand.  In the silence you receive all.  Silence is the language of love.  Silence is the peace of oneself.  Silence is music and harmony.  Silence is truth and prayer.  In the silence you meet the Master.  In the silence you breathe God."  These inspiring lines are set here to music for SSA choir and organ, recalling the Basilica, the pathway and a sunny Ascension Sunday service there in 2019.

The Way of Silence

SSA Full Score

In Flanders Fields, the popular World War I poem by John McCrae, serves as the centerpiece for this work of the same name. The poem, recited here with the music, memorializes the soldiers buried in Flanders Fields, Belgium, where poppies grow.  But the words have since come to symbolize fallen soldiers of all wars, in all places.  The music ranges from an introduction and march of patriotic optimism and fervor, to the dark realities of the battlefield, to a concluding hymn of pride and hope.  Perfect for a concert saluting Memorial Day or Remembrance Day celebrations or any patriotic event.  And, the perfect vehicle for spotlighting a celebrity narrator.

In Flanders Fields

Concert Band Score & Parts

Make of the title what you will, but if ever there was a "just duet," Chicago clarinetists extraordinaire John Bruce Yeh and his wife Teresa Reilly, the pair for whom this was written, fit that description admirably!  And of course, a good pun (or a bad one) suggests this little piece for two clarinets is just for fun.  And that, it is!  3'20" for any pair of matching clarinets.

Just Duet!

In1896 an historic ascent on Mount Rainier, Washington, was made by the first-ever Pacific Lutheran University band, led by its founder and director, Carlo A. Sperati. They trekked with their instruments to the 10,000 foot level of Camp Muir where, standing in awe of nature's realm, they played Martin Luther's best-loved hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God."  The present work for modern symphonic wind ensemble memorializes that event in three connected scenes: the determined ascent, the awe-struck arrival and wonder, and the ensuing joyful celebration.  Written in 2017 at the invitation of Dr. Edwin Powell, then director of the Pacific Lutheran University Wind Ensemble, it was premiered by them in 2018 at PLU and repeated a week later at the College Band Directors National Association, Western Division Conference at Sonoma State University, California.  Total duration approximately 13 minutes.

To the Mountain

This string quartet takes its subtitle from a poem by Andrew Rudd in which he celebrates the magnificent stained glass windows of the historic Manchester Cathedral in England, pointing out that all of their colors are "born of one light."  Likewise, in music, all pitches are born of one fundamental tone, out of which comes the harmonic series of overtones that produce the myriad pitches and tone colors composers have arranged and rearranged for centuries.  This quartet attempts a representation of that fundamental truth, basing its musical materials on the note C and gradually finding all twelve tones and all tonal centers, exploring along the way some of the unique timbral effects possible on string instruments.  The music, in three movements, is variously tonal and non-tonal, free form and traditional.  Approximately 21 minutes duration.

String Quartet

2 Violins, Viola, Cello Quartet

One of the joys of composing is writing “thank-you” notes for musician friends and colleagues, reconnecting and remembering old times with new pieces.  In the present instance, “Fantasia and Fandango” for solo horn and piano with string orchestra accompaniment, pays tribute to a horn and piano duo whose individual collaborations with the composer over the years remain dear.  The “Fantasia” section is, by turns, dramatic, dream-like, lyrical, and heroic.  The “Fandango” section (keeping to its name) is dance-like in its characteristic Spanish rhythms, energy and color.  Two brief quotations near the end—one well-known snippet for each—speak to some personal musical history.  But one needn’t know these references to enjoy this colorful work.  A showpiece for the right soloists!  Approximately 9’15” total duration.

Fantasia and Fandango

Fanfare, Fantasia and Finale (On a locally familiar tune) was written to commemorate two important anniversaries in the life of music at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington:  the fiftieth anniversary of the premiere of Lawrence J. Meyer’s Processional of Joy, and the twenty-fifth anniversary of the opening of Lagerquist Concert Hall and the Mary Baker Russell Music Center, both anniversaries falling in 2020.  Meyer’s processional is used to this day for academic occasions at the University and thus provides the “locally familiar tune” by which this colorful, full orchestral work was inspired.  But one needn’t know any of that history to enjoy this music.  It’s by turns brilliant, nostalgic, jazzy and powerful, providing an exciting entry on any orchestral program.  Total performance time is approximately 9 minutes.

Fanfare, Fantasia and Finale

Full Orchestra Score & Parts

Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass (1855) provides the text for this work. His poems, music in themselves, are also filled with musical references both surprisingly explicit and hauntingly spiritual, "Proud Music of the Storm" being but one such example.  A few of its lines are excerpted here in "Sound Leads O'er All" for solo baritone voice, SATB choir, piano and strings.  The music (including fleeting references to Luther, Mozart and Mahler) uses some atonal gestures over a solid tonal foundation, as it tracks Whitman's gradual realization that, of all the senses leading to his soul, indeed, "sound leads o'er all." Altogether, a powerful celebration of music's power!  Performance time approximately 11 minutes.

Sound Leads O'er All

Three Sketches for Wind Quintet is best described by its three movement titles: Rowed Race, Reverie, and Romp.  The first movement (pun totally intended) is, indeed, based on a twelve-tone row that races forward with ever-increasing tension, the wheels eventually coming off near its end.  In welcome contrast, the Reverie is slower, sweetly melodic and entirely tonalsomething of an extended dreamscape.  The Romp, then, contrasts again as a fast, boisterous and rollicking finale. The three sketches are connected in performance, total duration about 12 minutes.  Lots of notes.  Lots of fun!

Three Sketches

Quintet

Global Sections - CORE [DO NOT TOUCH]*

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