Christopher Tucker: Journal

Check out these YouTube videos covering the world premiere of Gabrieli's Trumpet on July 28, 2008. Enjoy!

Gabrieli’s Trumpet opening:


Gabrieli’s Trumpet middle section through recap:

I have attended the Texas Bandmasters Association (TBA) convention every July for the past twelve years as an exhibitor, participant or college student. I have learned so much from TBA's concerts and clinics. This was my summer to give back after taking in so much.

TBA counted me in this summer as exhibitor, performer, composer and clinician. I had a few weeks of activities compressed into three days. I gave a clinic on the commission process and I represented the Lone Star Wind Orchestra and Southern Music Company.

The highlight of the convention was the performance given by the Lone Star Wind Orchestra under the direction of Eugene Corporon and the world premiere of my new work for winds titled Gabrieli's Trumpet.



Gabrieli's Trumpet was commissioned by Texas Bandmasters Association, in tribute to Al Sturchio, retiring Executive Director of the organization.



In composing Gabrieli’s Trumpet, I wanted to personalize the work with elements close to the dedicatee, Al Sturchio. Speaking to his friends and colleagues, I learned he was a proud Italian-American, played trumpet, loved jazz music and as Executive Director of TBA was driven to make the organization the best it could be. The work is jazz-inspired and is laced with motives and musical figurations from Italian composer Giovanni Gabrieli’s Canzon Sonare No. 4.



The world premiere was conducted by Frank Troyka (seen left on the photo above; Al Sturcho is on the right). The Lone Star Wind Orchestra played the snot out of the piece. The performance was electric and was well-received by the 1000+ in attendance. Many thanks to TBA for allowing me to compose a work for such a great man!


(Photo - me, Kim and Mark)

The North Texas Wind Symphony performed and recorded two of my symphonic band works for the new GIA Teaching Music through Performance in Band Series - Americans Lost and Animal Krackers.



Much appreciation to Eugene Corporon, the Collegium conductors and the NTWS for preparing my pieces for performance and the recording session. I'm looking forward to hearing the final master recording in December.

This trip was something special - a commission from a dear friend, Kevin Jedele. I met Kevin when he was an assistant director of bands under Cheryl Floyd during the writing of my Twilight in the Wilderness. After getting to know him, it was apparent that a collaboration would occur soon. Then, last year he helped me out of a jam by giving the world premiere of my Journey down Niagara, a piece which is now fast becoming one of the most played new young band works in the market. It was only fitting that when he commissioned me for a new young band work that I try to fit it with the premiere he gave last year.

So, I decided to compose a companion work to Journey down Niagara titled Serenade at Prospect Point.

His Lake Travis Middle School Band played the work admirably and remarked enjoying the process. I noticed it took a while for some of the students to grasp the idea of the waltz (the form of the work is a serenade and waltz) since they do not hear waltzes (in their iPods!). Many of the parents/grandparents related much to the music providing nostalgia from their courting days.

I was also pleased to hear an additional collaboration occured between the band and literary program; the English teacher and two of her students recited a poem before the premiere, which her students co-wrote about the majesty of Niagara Falls. I was quite moved.



Until the next collaboration, thanks Kevin for all your support.

Check out the above picture - the passion in this man's conducting!!! Who is he? ...I'm proud to say a Tucker! Now, he's of no relation on paper; but behind-the-scenes, he is much the family relative I look forward to visiting and hanging out with. Andrew, or to his students known simply as 'Tucker', is the Assitant Director of Bands at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. The success he is earning and deserves befits a head director and displays the professionalism and respect that I enjoy when visiting a school on a residency.

The trip included working with his band as a composer and conductor. He also involved the local high school with members of the high school band and its director performing on the concert.



The program included Mark Camphouse's Whatsoever Things, my Twilight in the Wilderness and my Americans Lost (which I conducted and Andrew narrated). The group did an absolutely phenominal job; I would welcome the group and its musicians into my home as friends any day of the week and twice on Sundays.



So many memorable stories to tell from this adventure - some to hot to tell here. See me at the Midwest Clinic this December if you want to hear all the dirt! :)

I love it when a residency involves a short car ride of about 3-1/2 hours. No joke! 3-1/2 hours is considered short for us Texans. And I made two trips, one for a rehearsal, the other was the performance. I drove down from Rockwall to Huntsville for a performance of my Legends by the Sam Houston State Symphonic Band under the direction of my dear friend and colleague Alfredo "Fred" Velez. I stayed with my old college roommate, now the famed composer and professor, Dr. Kyle Kindred!



The band was playing at a high level for a 'second' ensemble. The program included other mature wind works like Yagisawa's Machu Picchu.



I was very proud of them. The hall suited the group's performance and the audience enjoyed the concert. I look forward to collaborating again with the bands at Sam Houston State...hopefully in the near future!

A trip to Chicago, IL occurs every December and has for at least ten years for me (this year the convention celebrates 60 years). It is always a memorable experience filled with friends, fun and great music.

My first piece for wind band was published in 1999 and since then, a Midwest Clinic performance has eluded me. The rules always keep me in close, but discard me in the end. Directors are surprised when I tell them that I have not had a Midwest performance of one of my pieces yet, even the award-winning ones like Americans Lost and Twilight in the Wilderness.

Well, this year was different. My dear friends from Austin, Cheryl Floyd and the Hill Country Middle School Symphonic Band took up my young band piece Journey down Niagara and played it with compassion and excitement. The work was coupled with a number of great works including Jodie Blackshaw's Whirlwind. Mr. Richard Floyd directed my work and the kids played it admirably. I was honored by the performance.



I spend most of my time with my publisher Southern Music Company meeting directors, musicians and fellow composers. I enjoy listen to stories and at the SMC booth, there is always a great story to be told.



I cannot wait until next year!!!

Boy, over the last few years, I have waited anxiously and patiently for a performance at the Midwest Clinic. Each year up until now, I've seen my compositions reserved by various bands in the beginning of their selection process only to be cut in the end.

After all that, I feel it fitting and appropriate that my first Midwest Clinic performance in Chicago be fulfilled by a dear friend, Cheryl Floyd, director of the Hill Country Middle School Band Program. And her husband, Richard Floyd, director of UIL Music here in Texas, will conduct the work (Dick has been a champion for my music. I am deeply grateful to both of them for what they have done to help spread the word about my band compositions).

The piece she will take with her to the Midwest Clinic is my already successful young band piece Journey down Niagara. After having an unfortunate beginning with a botched commission agreement, the work has taken on a life that is seeing numerous performances and awards (Interesting enough, the piece has not been published yet).

The kids played quite well (I call them superhuman kids). As expected, they played the entire program as well as I remembered the band when the Hill Country Middle School Symphonic Band commissioned and premiered my award-winning Twilight in the Wilderness back in 2003. They are awesome!!!

I'm looking forward to the new experience. Again, thank you to Richard and Cheryl Floyd for allowing me the opportunity.

This was the first time I had ever been to San Jose or even this region as a visiting composer. With that, the majority of the day was spent sight-seeing with Diana, learning about the area and walking around San Jose State University. The most memorable moment was a drive out to Santa Cruz, which is just 20 minutes southwest of San Jose. Diana and I walked along the beach, ate at a restaurant on the pier and watched the sea lions frolic in the water. For lunch, I tried shrimp & crabcrake enchiladas - they were quite horrible; I don't recommend them if you visit Santa Cruz.



The concert was a success with a fair number of concert-goers and wonderful performances by both San Jose State University bands. As mentioned before, Diana Hollinger conducts the Symphonic Band - a relatively new group, only 2 years in existence, with a lot of potential as non-majors who played in their high school band gets wind that there is an opportunity to play again. Edward Harris is the Chairperson of the music school and Director of Bands conducting the wind ensemble. Their program was well-rounded, enlightening & fun as they performed among others Richard Strauss' Serenade and Adam Gorb's jazzy Awayday.



The after party included a late dinner with Ed and his wife Kathy, Diana & Tony, Victoria and myslef. Drinks were a plenty and the food was amazing. I also realized if Ed Harris wasn't a band director, he would have made a HANDSOME living as a stand-up comic (that guy is funny!!!).



Tomorrow, Diana, Tony and I head to the computer-side of Silicon Valley to visit Microsoft, Google, Yahoo and the newly constructed Computer Museum. I'm looking forward to it before I have to say goodbye and head back to Dallas.

I almost didn't make it! I flew in to San Jose, CA right before an arctic blast roared through Dallas/Fort Worth. If I was on a later flight, I would still be in Dallas. The American Airlines flight was still a bit delayed only due to de-icing the plane (which turned out to be quite festive as they sprayed a large amount of red and green liquid on the plane). It was a comfortable ride with only half of the plane filled - I had three seats to myself. Plus, I was able to relax in light of dealing with a terrible cold. I was just hoping that a little sickness would not come in the way of enjoying my time in beautilful California.

I made it just in time for lunch and the San Jose State University Symphonic Band's final rehearsal before the concert. Diana Hollinger, a fellow past student of the University of North Texas, is their conductor and as well as the Music Education coordinator for the SJSU School of Music. She picked me up from the airport and took me to Top Dogs for lunch (a hot dog place which I hear is one of the best in the country). It was quite good.



The rehearsal came later and the kids were quite excited to play for a living composer (still on medication battling a cold, so I'm not sure how 'living' I was). I was quite taken back how the low brass sound throughout the rehearsal - plus, they have an amazing principal clarinetist.

After the rehearsal, we had dinner at Taiwan (interesting enough, it's a Chinese restaurant) in the Willow Glen district of downtown San Jose. Williow Glen is the historic, elegant side of San Jose with small specialty shops and restaurants.

I am off to California at the end of this month for a performance by the San Jose State University Symphonic Band. Their conductor is Ms. Diana Hollinger - a friend and former classmate at the University of North Texas. As far as I know, her band will be giving the California premiere of two works Earth, the Gentlest Mother and Twilight in the Wilderness - which will soon comprise of the third and fourth parts to my Sinfonietta No. 1 "Of Nature". This will be the second performance of Earth... ever! And I am looking forward to hearing the work played by a wonderful college band. Plus, this will be my first trip to California as a composer-in-residence (I was last in the 2nd greatest state [1st place goes to Texas :) ] when the North Texas Wind Symphony played at the WASBE Convention in 1999). To my CA buds, I hope to see some of you there!

The Lone Star Wind Orchestra (www.lonestarwindorchestra.com) performs it's second concert of the season on Tuesday, November 7 at the Eisemann Center in Richardson. This is an all-Shostakovich concert with a historic performance of a transcription of the entire Symphony No. 5 (and in its original key of d minor). I play bass clarinet in the ensemble and my good friend from San Antonio, Mark Rogers, will conduct (many know him as a Grainger scholar and the publications director at Southern Music Company). Hope to see you there!

I had to announce this because as an Apple iTunes customer and fan, I just think this is so cool! My first commercial CD Twilight in the Wilderness is now available from iTunes! I have to admit that I was giddy for most of the day - visiting the iTunes Music Store over and over searching for the album and watching it pop up (like so many more popular CDs I buy from this store). If you are an iTunes connoisseur, please purchase a song or two of mine for 99 cents each.

Click the Logo to View in the iTunes Store

I am quite excited about this latest composition endeavor. I have just signed a consortium agreement with ten schools to compose a ten minute work, which already has a title and a program; I am calling it A Light in the Deep. The work will be a musical impression of the underwater photography by National Geographic's David Doubilet. Click on the photo above and check out his portfolio. His work is brilliant and I am focused on composing a work, which not only musical represents his artistry, but a work which truly leaves the listener with a sense of beauty for what life is like under the water. In the past two years, I have had the urge to compose a work which is inspired by water imagery; so cross your fingers. :) If all goes well, the piece will be finished by February with premieres by the ten groups in the Spring.

To the schools who believe in me to create this consortium, THANK YOU!
University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee (Milwaukee, WI)
Thomas Dvorak, Director of University Bands
Armstrong Atlantic State University (Savannah, GA)
Mark B. Johnson, Director of Wind Ensembles
Augustana College (Rock Island, IL)
Dr. James Lambrecht, Director of Bands
Bowling Green State University (Bowling Green, OH)
Bruce Moss, Director of Bands
Butler University (Indianaopolis, IN)
Dr. Robert Grechesky, Director of Bands
Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, OH)
Gary Clepluch, Music Director
Illinois State University (Normal, IL)
Stephen K. Steele, Director of Bands
Nocross High School (Nocross, GA)
Rudy Gilbert, Director of Bands
Shaker-Heights High School (Shaker-Heights, OH)
Tom Deep, Director of Bands
University of North Dakota (Grand Forks, ND)
Dr. James Popejoy, Director of Bands

A new wind ensemble hits the streets of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex this year. They're called the Lone Star Wind Orchestra. The group was co-formed in April by myself with colleagues Barry Knezek and Robert Clark. The LSWO is a professional, all-voluntary wind ensemble and will perform in halls like the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas and the Eisemann Center in Richardson. The group has lots of potential and I would love for you to check us out at www.lonestarwindorchestra.com. Our first concert "ever" is on Wednesday, September 27th at the Meyerson Symphony Center. We're performing a concert titled FIESTA! as the program features Ginastera's Danza Final, Barnes' Danza Sinfonica and Reed's La Fiesta Mexicana. *I am totally psyched!*

I was fortunate to find out that Richard Floyd of Texas UIL Music was to conduct my successful young band piece Journey down Niagara with the Phi Beta Mu Directors Band at the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention. I was extremely grateful and am looking forward to its official publication with Southern Music Company.

Kim and I want to take this opportunity to thank all those responsible for bringing us up to New York state - from Marty Allen and the Grand Island High School band booster to our dear friends, Mark and Jenny Morette.

To Mark and Jen-o: I sincerely apologize for bringing a bit of the Texas heat to NY. I feel for you and the sadness that followed after the Buffalo Sabres lost the chance to make the Stanley Cup. I am looking forward to Dallas taking the NBA Finals. Go Mavs!

Thanks for the shelter, buckwheat pancakes, the fun in the maze, the pink stuff, the "funny bleepin' pics" and the endless amounts of liquid beverage (you know what I mean!).


(Me, Jen, Mark and Kim)

The day of the premiere arrived as Kim and I were enjoying our time with friends and colleagues. Rehearsals were run much like dress rehearsals hitting spots and checking balances.

The concert began at 7:30 pm. Before the concert, the directors had a special dinner scheduled where the true nature of the commission was announced. The dedicatees were moved by the commission and had absolutely no idea of its secret program.



Above, I'm awaiting for the bird calls from our resident CD bird lady, Mrs. Sarah Russo as I was set to conduct Twilight in the Wilderness with the second band. After the final hit, the audience was all standing with applause and bravos.



Mr. Marty Allen conducted Legends with the wind ensemble. But before the performance, I came to the stage to explain the piece with musical examples played by the band. The kids played with compassion and grace much to the character and lives of the three dedicatees.



(l to r: Sherman Lyke, Clarke Elliott, Allan Ripley, Marty Allen and Me)

Following the concert, we made our way to a reception where many friends, colleagues and former students of the directors came together to honor the dedicatees influence on their lives. Each retiring director received a scrapbook of memories and a framed, signed copy of the front page of Legends.





And some people were having a really good time taking in liquid pleasure...that even included the flowing chocolate.

Day two included more rehearsals with the wind ensemble and symphonic band. During the rehearsal of Legends, we spent some time on the second and third movements. And to our surprise, dedicatee Allan Ripley came into the final twenty minutes when the band was playing his movement. I was able to turn the score page over that showed the title Ripley's Jollity. Even after rehearsal, I was dodging his questions about the piece hoping he would not figure it out. It worked. Following the rehearsal of Twilight in the Wilderness, Clarke Elliott and his 7th/8th grade band rehearsed The Regal Lion from my Animal Krackers - my wife Kim worked with the kids. It's interesting to note that before we were married, Kim and her junior high band commissioned the work.



Kim and I spent the afternoon at Niagara Falls on the American side. It was only nine months ago that we were on the Canadian side for our one year wedding anniversary. It was a beautiful clear day as we ate lunch at Hard Rock Cafe and walked down to Prospect Point to view the falls.





The night was with the Morettes as we visited some of their special friends and their friend's backyard called the "maze."

The next few days are sure to be a magical experience as the Grand Island High School Wind Ensemble (Grand Island, NY) under the direction of Mr. Marty Allen will present the premiere of Legends. The work will be dedicated to three retiring band directors in the Central School District all of which have provided musical excellence for over 80 years combined. Plus, I will be a guest conductor with the second band conducting my Twilight in the Wilderness.

And luckily, we will be staying with some hip, cool, awesome, bodacious people (I'm not sucking up...or am I?) - Mark and Jenny Morette. Mark is the owner and president of Mark Records out of Clarence, NY. If anybody knows Grammy level professional recordings for wind ensembles, they know Mark Records. Well yesterday, Kim and I flew into Buffalo to meet Mark. He's so famous, there are even road signs to his house.



Mark and Jennie live in the 'New York' jungle of Akron and are so outdoor-sy. We spent all of yesterday outside eating breakfast, drinking coffee and checking out the animals - including wabbits, foxes, chipmunks, squirrels, hedgehogs, etc.



The day started quite slowly as I was asked to wake up for a 7:30 am rehearsal. But what most band directors do not realize is we are opposite from them - we are night owls. With a 45 minute drive to the high school, Kim and I had to set the alarm for 5:30 am (which in our Central Time was 4:30 am). The last time I had to get up that early was when I was in college at UNT.



Grand Island Central School District is some organization. The middle and senior high school campuses are on the same plot of land with the CSD administration smack in the middle. There's no need to drive anywhere - it's all a walk away. Even more efficient is the music department. All level rehearsals including band, orchestra and chorus are in the same building, down the same hall and adjacent to the main auditorium. Here's a picture of their mascot towering over the performance hall.



The rehearsals lasted all morning with the wind ensemble devoting their entire rehearsal to Legends. I found that they were constantly vigilant making sure the three dedicatees - Sherman Lyke, Clarke Elliott and Allan Ripley - were not in the rehearsal. When the directors appeared they would quickly move on to something else (I think the students even whited-out the movement titles). Another note about the band: it is quite impressive to hear this group's progress knowing the schedule is against them with only 42 minutes of rehearsal every day.



The symphonic band was next as I rehearsed Twilight in the Wilderness. They were as prepared and as attentive as the top group. I was honored that both groups were playing my music. The main difference between the groups was their size - the wind ensemble was much like what Fennell created at Eastman with smaller numbers and the symphonic band was the ensemble of old with large numbers (i.e. U. of Michigan Bands circa early-mid 20th century).

After the rehearsal, I visited with Ms. Sarah Russo and her 6th grade band as they spent their rehearsal working on Elephant Stomp from my young band work Animal Krackers. After the percussion learned to hit the bass drum and timpani with power, I was able to clearly imagine a caravan of elephants.



Well, that's it for day one. Stuff that happened after the rehearsals will stay with me, Kim and the Morettes. Later...until tomorrow.