Of Kindred Minds (Band Gr. 5)

Music moves us, inspires us, and has the ability to unite us as one. Of Kindred Minds seeks to celebrate how music connects us as one. With melodic material derived from the hymn “Blest Be the Tie That Binds,” this dynamic work explores the full range of color and majesty of today’s wind band.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Series: Diamond Band Series
Level: 5 | Duration: 6:40

Instrumentation
Conductor's Score (11"x17")

Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Clarinet 3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

B-flat Trumpet 1
B-flat Trumpet 2
B-flat Trumpet 3
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
F Horn 3
F Horn 4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
B-flat Baritone T.C.
Tuba

Piano

Timpani (4 drums)
Percussion 1: Crotales, Chimes, Xylophone
Percussion 2: Bells, Suspended Cymbal
Percussion 3: Vibraphone, Hi-Hat, Snare Drum, Tam-Tam
Percussion 4: Crash Cymbals, Triangle, Brake Drum, Tam-Tam
Percussion 5: 4 Concert Toms, Concert Bass Drum

Program Notes
Music moves us, inspires us, and has the ability to unite us as one. Of Kindred Minds seeks to celebrate how music connects us as one. The melodic material of the work is based on the American Hymn, "Blest Be the Tie That Binds," words by John Fawcett (1782) and music by Johann G. Nageli, arranged by Lowell Mason (1845). The work was commissioned by Benjamin Brody and the Gahanna Lincoln Instrumental Boosters of Gahanna High School in Gahanna, Ohio. Mr. Brody attended Gahanna High School and had this to say about the work: "This title felt perfect for the work, as one who becomes close with a teacher or mentor begins to teach and think similarly to their mentor. The Gahanna music program and the directors have left a huge impact on me, thus crafting me to go out in the world and teach/compose with the musical values they taught me."

The title is taken from the provocative line in the first verse of the hymn, "the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. Fawcett is talking about the special relationship Christians have for each other as they come together to worship God. Music is a gift from God and when we gather together as kindred minds when creating, performing, or listening to music, we are unified as one. The process of being unified as one is not often immediate. As humans, it might take us a while to begin to realize how music connects us all as one. The structure of the work reflects this process beginning with motives of the hymn and leading to fragments of the hymn in C minor with different harmonies and then to the last phrase of the hymn in hemiola rhythm. This intensifies and leads to a fanfare in F major on the first seven notes of the hymn followed by two chorale-like phrases by brass and woodwinds respectfully, transitioning to E-flat major. Up to this point, there have only been fragments of the hymn, analagous to suggestions of the power of music. But now, solo flute sings the melody of the hymn in it's purest form accompanied by piano, bells, and vibraphone. One now comes to the realization that music, in its purest form, has a unique power over us. The hymn is then repeated by the horns and alto saxes in hemiola rhythm against the sextuplets in the woodwinds as the power of music becomes more apparent. Following, is a dance-like celebration of this "epiphany" in 6/16 meter, passing around motives of the hymn between woodwinds and brass while the percussion keep the rhythm in tact. The dance begins in C major, moves to A-flat major and then modulates to D minor. While the woodwinds and percussion continue the dance, the brass and saxophones play the entire hymn in D minor as a solemn reminder that we must put aside our differences and share our love of music with kindred minds. A spirited interlude follows using motives from the 1st and 3rd phrases of the hymn and modulates to a tour de force in E-flat major by the entire ensemble playing the hymn in its full splendor. But then, the music darkens as two diminished seventh chords become stacked above a pedal E-flat using the motive from the 3rd phrase of the hymn. We are again reminded that we must share our love of music to be united as one. Three hammered articulations of the chord, lead back to E-flat major. A jubilant coda, using hymn motives, leads to a dramatic and rousing climax.