Meditation On Amen

Meditation on "Amen" was commissioned by Darby Stanton and the Ridgeview Charter Middle School Bands in honor of the retirement of Michael Gibson, director of bands. This piece is based on one of Mike's favorite gospel hymns, Curtis Mayfield's Amen. Mayfield's upbeat tune is transformed into a dreamlike reminiscence at the beginning of the piece, with a solo clarinet singing a wistful melody. Over the course of the piece, Mayfield's Amen gradually comes into focus as melodies are passed around the ensemble, until finally the key changes and a grandiose march-like beat emerges. The whole band plays the Amen together twice before the solo clarinet brings the music to a close.

- Program Note by composer