Program Note

Diane Wittry, Music Director and Conductor of the Allentown Symphony Orchestra wanted a piece that was ‘Upbeat and Lively’ which I took in reference to my “Fanfare for the 21st Century” I wrote during the pandemic for brass and percussion. I knew then that I would take this commission through a similar vein as that Fanfare. With other composers and notable pieces on the program: Adolphus Hailstork’s “Fanfare on Amazing Grace”, Florence Price’s “Andante Cantabile”, Beethoven’s 9th “Choral” Symphony; I felt I wanted to compose a work fitting that program while still being myself, and that’s where the story comes in.

I typically write pieces that tell stories and this commission was no different, however, I did not know what that story was. What I did end up doing was joining in on the theme of odes and hymns the rest of the program had: Stork’s Fanfare on Amazing Grace. Wittry’s Ode to Joy Fanfare, and Beethoven’s 9th Choral Symphony. I used what I wanted to call an ode from another composition of mine “Fanfare for the 21st Century” which accounts for the similar naming of the overall form of the work “Overture for the 21st Century.” I wanted these two pieces to act within the same universe or realm. I let my intuition take charge and the ode I wrote went on quite the spectacle of a journey; intentionally leaving the story vague and up for interpretation while I was composing. I realized as I finished the work that my intuition musically drew up the emotions (mentioned above) I was internalizing during the composing process, which leads to the title “Overture for the 21st Century” with the subtitle “Joy of the Soul” showing the relationship in material to the prior “Fanfare.”

Composer’s Note

“Joy of the Soul” was commissioned by the Allentown Symphony for the finale of their 2023-2024 season. This 8 minute work musically portrays my excitement from entering the professional orchestral medium. When I was approached by Diane Wittry about this commission, I was unbelievably excited about the sounds and stories I would be able to create with such incredible performers. Feelings of exhilaration, resilience, whimsicality, and meaning became my biggest takeaways from this opportunity that I then blended into the piece itself.