Recordings by Washington Township High School Wind Ensemble
Published Through Local Composer

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP –  Former Director of the Washington Township High School Wind Ensemble and current Chestnut Ridge Middle School Assistant Principal James Beyer recently was alerted that several of his group’s recordings have been published and are available for sale.  Working with Philadelphia-based composer and clinician Thomas J. West, the WTHS Wind Ensemble’s renditions are copyrighted and available for purchase through www.thomasjwestmusic.com/compositions.htm. Visitors to the website can listen to each piece.

“Several years ago, the WTHS band recorded several compositions for a former colleague-turned- composer Thomas West,” Beyer said.  “He sent his compositions to publishers for consideration and got published.  The publishers decided to stick with the recording that the WTHS Wind Ensemble had made rather than have them re-done by a professional group.  It’s a pretty cool feather in the cap for the band program.”

Among the recordings available for purchase are:

Robot Dance (2006): Intended for beginner band, the piece depicts the angular movements associated with the title.  The middle section is intended to teach pulse awareness and rhythmic independence and centers are C minor and F minor.  The piece is published by TRN Music.

We Remember (2003): This piece was commissioned in memory of William H. Bird, the patriarch of Muncy, Pennsylvania.  The chorale theme is based on the hymn tune “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence,” which breaks into a march-like section with a bugler’s theme.

Fanfare for a Transition (2004): This piece describes the emotions related to any life transition, such as graduating from high school.  The initial harmony is quartal, followed by a short theme in Eb minor depicting uncertainty.

Jingle Bells (2005): This is an arrangement on the recording found on Barbra Streisand’s Christmas album circa 1974.  Its tongue-in-cheek treatment of the familiar tune is enjoyable for both students and audiences.

— WTPS —

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