Composed for the Ephrata High School Band Program and dedicated to Stephen Goss, Director and Kristie Ohlinger, Visual Ensemble Director. I took inspiration to compose Foundation For A Legacy from two of my colleagues and friends at Ephrata Area School District, Stephen Goss and Kristie Ohlinger, veteran music educators who reinvigorated a high school band program and continue to positively influence their students and others through marching band. I was also inspired by the text of Fr. Friedsem of the Ephrata Cloister and the music of Conrad Beissel and the two brothers and three sisters who composed the hymns for the Ephrata Cloister Music Book published and printed by a young man in Philadelphia named Benjamin Franklin. The three sisters may be the first published women composers in colonial America.
The main percussion effect is achieved by striking a crotale then holding it over an up-turned snare to cause the snares to buzz. In order to create a crescendo the player moves the crotale closer to the snare and touches the snare to stop the sound. This creates a sound similar an electric buzz then zap! The piece requires three hand held crotales pitches – A – Bb – C. There is an optional part for a two octave set of crotales.
The piece is written for a concert band with a large percussion section. 4 mallet players, 1 keyboard (celesta) player, and 10 percussionists.
