Perches In The Soul: A Symphony for Band

Robert Pippin's Speech: 0:00
Benjamin N Brody's Speech: 2:35
Premiere Performance: 5:10


Program Notes
Ever since I started writing, I have wanted to write a symphony. There is something about writing a long form work that I have always wanted to do. I met Robert Pippin at the 2022 Midwest Clinic in line for registration. We only talked for a short time in line at registration but we talked the entire time on the plane ride back from the conference. I had the privilege of getting to know Robert and to show him some of my works. At the end of the flight, my gut was telling me to ask him if he would be interested in a larger scale piece for him and his ensemble, the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Wind Symphony. He agreed, and to this day I am forever grateful for this opportunity.

When I decided that I wanted to write a symphony for this work, I knew immediately what the concept would be. I always thought that my first symphony would have been a dark piece, but I had come off of multiple darker pieces and I wanted to write something brighter and more joyous. I also knew that I wanted my symphony to be a statement of some kind, as I spent so much time writing a work that would be such a significant work of my repertoire. There was only one idea that would fit this work: a piece of thanks. In the past few years, we seem to have declared a war against teachers. We seem to take our teachers for granted and villainize them, which is distressing with how important they are for the future of our society. I wanted to write a piece of appreciation and thanks to those teachers, but especially four teachers that helped me through the hard times and some of the most important people in my life. This piece is not programmatic in nature, but rather a symphony with the movements dedicated to people and the titles attempting to fit a traditional symphony structure to make the piece whole and connected. The work is titled Perches in the Soul, based on the Emily Dickinson poem titled “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul,” for how all of these teachers have influenced me and how teachers influence their students for their entire lives.

I. Serendipity: You Turned My Wailing Into Dancing
The first teacher I wanted to thank was my economics teacher in high school. This man was the first person who figured out about some of my mental health issues. We would meet every few weeks to just talk and help deal with some of my mental issues. Since he was the first one to help me navigate my mental health struggles, it made sense that he would be whom the first movement was for. He was into dancing, so it felt right to make the first movement a tango. Thank you, Sean, and for that day in economics when we first started to talk. It was serendipity.

II. Pandemonium: As Kingfishers Catch Fire, Dragonflies Draw Flame
This movement is for my jazz band teacher, who was also the person that started me on tuba in sixth grade. This is not a “jazzy” movement, but rather a lively scherzo with intensity. It is titled pandemonium for the chaotic nature of the movement and all of the interjections and rhythmic intensity of the work. This movement is inspired by Kelly, as it has a hint of sass and is written to be performed in the way she told us how to swing: obnoxiously and in your face. Thank you, Kelly, for being the first to instill a love for music and for starting me on this journey.

III. Catharsis: And Twenty Caged Nightingales Do Sing
Though I did not have him as a teacher in school, Jeff has become a mentor and teacher since I graduated. The outer sections of this movement are lyrical in nature, which were Jeff’s favorite pieces to program with his ensembles. The lyrical sections are complemented with a chaotic middle section, as if it is the release of tension during catharsis. Thank you, Jeff, for your guidance and encouragement for someone that was never your “student.”

IV. Apotheosis: When You Wish Upon a Star
The final movement is dedicated to my high school concert band director, Rob. This movement is based on the main melody of the entire symphony (which is heard at the beginning of the first movement and in the middle section of the third). This movement is meant to be a celebration of thanks for all of these teachers, but especially Rob. This movement features a saxophone quartet (saxophone is Rob’s primary instrument) while also attempting to be minimalist with material of rhythmic intensity and metallic percussion. Thank you Rob for showing me what a concert band is meant to be and being one of the people helping to push me into this field of music and composition.

Premiered by the Southwestern Oklahoma State University Wind Symphony.
Robert Pippin, Conductor.
April 26, 2024