Fanfare to the Morning Star
Fanfare to the Morning Star was premiered at the 2019 Southeastern Trombone Symposium by the STS Professors Choir. The title is derived from many ancient ideas surrounding the morning star, which we now call Venus. Recorded in cultures throughout the ancient world, from India, Israel, Egypt, and Greece, tradition surrounding the morning star focuses on it's nature, heralding in a new day, a glimmer of light before the sunrise. In this fanfare, the ancient ideas of death and rebirth are depicted by combining some big trombone orchestral standards (Mahler's 2nd Symphony chorale and Stravinsky's Firebird chorale) that share these same ideas of rebirth and resurrection. I wanted to take these well-loved, wonderful, powerful harmonies and revitalize them in a new way, adding active melodies and rhythmic drive. This fanfare can jump-start any crowd and displays the power of a full trombone choir without it getting harsh and aggressive. This piece will work well for ensembles of all sizes and is a blast to play!