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Shortcut Home
Dana Wilson
Shortcut Home is a rousing fanfare that features each section of the ensemble. Drawing upon various jazz styles, the fanfare hovers around the "home" of C Major for the entirety of the piece. This "home" tonality is implied from the work's very first note, but is obscured and clouded throughout with dense harmony, changing meter, and surprising flourishes. Utilizing devices such as pitch bends, walking bass lines, and drum set patterns, Wilson creates a stylized and energetic "shortcut" toward the satisfying final note - the only pure major triad to be found in the piece. This piece was commissioned in 1998 by the Hillsborough (New Jersey) High School Band, Mindy Scheierman, director.
Dana Wilson (b. 1946) is an American composer, jazz pianist, and teacher. He holds degrees from Bowdoin College (B.A), the University of Connecticut (M.A.) and the Eastman School of Music (Ph.D). He teaches composition at Ithaca College and resides in Ithaca, New York. He has been a Fellow at Yaddo, the artists’ retreat in Saratoga Springs; the Aspen Institute; and the Society for Humanities, Cornell University.
Last updated on November 12, 2013 by Palatine Concert Band