Concert Band - Level 3 - Digital Download
SKU: A0.1028045
Composed by Nicholas McClure. Contemporary. Score and parts. 11 pages. Nicholas McClure #3226621. Published by Nicholas McClure (A0.1028045).
On December 14, 2012, at 9:35 a.m., the entire country stood motionless, for a horrific act of terror was underway. Adam Lanza shot and killed 20 first-graders and 6 adults, at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut; a moment in history as one of the worst school shootings that our country has ever faced. Every single child which was murdered had a future of their own, taken away at the hands of a ruthless gunman, who in an instant, ended any chance that these 20 children had to have a happy life. Along with these children, were the 6 heroic staff members who so selflessly gave their life in order to stop this perpetrator who came to destroy the fragile object that we all call life. The title of this piece, The Sandy Hook Lullaby, is symbolic to represent the deaths and aftermath on that faithful day. This particular piece is a lullaby to represent the day that the victims lives were taken, ending with a peaceful goodbye. The song starts strong and valiant, to represent the beginning and potential of a new day. As it progresses, the song softens a bit, with clarinet lead, which represents the students learning in the classroom and the staff working as normal. A swell in volume represents the knowledge learned, as they are completely unaware of the events to follow. Halfway through, terror strikes. The percussion solo is representative of the the 5 minutes that the entire attack took place. The entire finale of the song is to represent the peaceful rest of those murdered, the final goodbye. The song ends softly, as the victims are put to rest, and because most of the victims were children, this comes in the form of a lullaby. Just as a loving and caring parent would put their child to sleep with a song, we give our final goodbyes with this Sandy Hook Lullaby. Thank you, and please enjoy with reverence and respect. -Nicholas McClure, Composer.