Laurier Brass Ensemble Mar. 8 Program Notes

Feb. 18, 2025

STOMP!

STOMP! is a short dance movement for band based on a high school music project of the same name. It is inspired by the composer’s own experience in the music program at Toronto District Christian High School, in Woodbridge, Ontario. It’s designed to be fun and exciting, both to play, and to listen to.

- Program note by the composer

Three More Cats

Flora, Tubby Mousetrouser and Homepride are the latest additions to this popular family of felines.

Flora was found in a dustbin as a kitten. She liked nothing better than to rush around but would suddenly stop and fall asleep and almost as quickly be up and off again. If you wanted to find her, she would usually be in amongst the bushes in the garden, hence her name.

Tubby Mousetrouser is a name I would love to be credited with, but alas is not mine, nor indeed was the cat. He belonged to a friend of mine who was a record dealer and avid fan of Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. He loved the original Cat Suite so, in honour of his loyalty, I included Tubby. The name has never been explained to me, but the tubby and mouse seem fairly self-explanatory. Where did the trouser come from? Who knows? A gentle animal who loved nothing better than to sleep and eat.

Homepride, a huge pale ginger cat, was found one early morning in the kitchen, helping himself to food. I thought it was Mr. Jums (one of the original cats), covered in flour or something. As it turned out, a completely new cat had arrived, but the flour image stuck, so he was named after a well-known English brand of flour and bread.

- Program note by the composer

undaunted

undaunted is a musical celebration of uninhibited emotions... fearlessness, joy, and confidence... all emotions with which I associate the brass ensemble, and the human experience in general. I am fascinated by individuals that experience life constantly looking forward, moving from failure to failure equally as energetically as they move from success to success. The piece is unabashedly joyous and celebratory, which I feel is the overarching mission of the musical outreach provided by the Salvation Army music ensembles.

undaunted is dedicated to my friend and colleague, John Lam, and the incredible ensemble he leads. I am honored to share in their mission of spreading joy and celebration through music.

- Program note by the composer

The Seal Lullaby

Oh! Hush thee, my baby, the night is behind us,
And black are the waters that sparkled so green.
The moon, o’er the combers, looks downward to find us,
At rest in the hollows that rustle between.

Where billow meets billow, then soft be thy pillow,
Oh weary wee flipperling, curl at thy ease!
The storm shall not wake thee, nor shark overtake thee,
Asleep in the arms of the slow swinging seas!

Rudyard Kipling, 1865-1936