Shalom (Band Gr. 3)

Originally composed as a choral prayer for peace and wholeness during the events of 2020, Shalom alternates between sections of very simply melody floating over gentle accompaniment with polyphonic refrains featuring whispers of the word "peace. No matter how complex the texture gets, it always returns to a single unison note, picturing the meaning of shalom: not merely a surface level peace, but wholeness in every aspect of one’s being (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) and in all our relationships with each other.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Satndard
Series: Emerald Band Series
Level: 3 | Duration: 5:45

Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Clarinet 1
B-flat Clarinet 2
B-flat Clarinet 3
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass 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
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
B-flat Baritone T.C.
Tuba

Double Bass [optional]
Harp (or Piano) [optional]

Timpani [4 drums]
Percussion 1: Vibraphone
Percussion 2: Wind Chimes, Glockenspiel, Crash Cymbals
Percussion 3: Suspended Cymbal, 2 Triangles
Percussion 4: Marimba [4.3-octave], Bass Drum

Program Notes
Originally composed as a choral prayer for peace and wholeness during the events of 2020, "Shalom" was transcribed for wind band by commission from the North Hills High School Bands, the longest-running commission series of its kind in the United States. It was a great honor to receive the invitation to join the incredible list of wind band composers who have written for this commission (including my own doctoral teacher James Barnes in 1984; see the North Hills Instrumental Music Commission Series website for the full list).

As a choral work, "Shalom" alternates between sections of very simple melody floating over gentle accompaniment, setting Biblical words of comfort and peace, with polyphonic refrains that feature the Hebrew word shalom (meaning “peace”) weaving in and out between voices. No matter how complex the texture gets, it always returns to a single unison note, picturing the meaning of shalom: not merely a surface level peace, but wholeness in every aspect of one’s being (physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually) and in all our relationships with each other. This word felt particularly appropriate as a response to the turmoil of a worldwide pandemic as well as the George Floyd murder.

Transcribing the work for wind band provided much more opportunity for timbre and texture than the original choral version; however, I preserved the whispers of the word “Peace” as an option for bands who want to express the work's meaning on a deeper level. When used, the word should be whispered expressively, so that its communicated sound matches and illuminates its meaning.

I wish deep peace - shalom - to the musicians who bring this work to their audiences.

– Dan Forrest