Give Us This Day, David Maslanka

The Valdosta State University Wind Ensemble performs Give Us This Day by David Maslanka on March 2, 2022.

The words ‘give us this day’ are, of course, from the Lord’s Prayer, but the inspiration for this music is Buddhist,” shared the composer. “I have recently read a book by the Vietnamese Bhuddist monk Thich Nhat Hahn entitled ‘For a Future to be Possible.’ His premise is that a future for the planet is only possible if individuals become deeply mindful of themselves, deeply connected to who they really are. While this is not a new idea, and something that is an ongoing struggle for everyone, in my estimation it is the issue for world peace. For me, writing music, and working with people to perform music, are two of those points of deep mindfulness.

“Music makes the connection to reality, and by reality I mean a true awakeness and awareness. Give Us This Day gives us this very moment of awakeness and awareness so that we can build a future in the face of a most dangerous and difficult time.”

Conductor Benjamin Harper is director of bands and assistant professor of music at VSU. He conducts the Wind Ensemble, directs the graduate program in wind conducting, and guides all aspects of the university band program.

For more information about band at VSU, visit https://www.valdosta.edu/band