If These Walls Could Sing (2025)

for concert band

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The old adage of “If these walls could talk, I wonder what they’d say” came to mind when Joe Harrin commissioned me to write an overture celebrating the 100th anniversary of the music program at Hernando High School. The amount of history that has taken place in that band room – the good days, the bad days and all of the music that has come to life – is special. But of course those walls wouldn’t just be talking, they’d be singing.

 

The music in the composition is inspired by Hernando High School’s alma mater, which is quoted in measures 94-106. The major sixth that is the foundation of that melody (anacrusis to 102) became a building block for other melodies in the piece.

 

And of course with a title like “If These Walls Could Sing”, I would be remiss not to have the band members singing at various times in the piece. In both of these moments (m. 71 & 133) – but especially the latter – you will have to master the balance just write so the vocals are heard. Feel free to add voices if necessary!

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