Op. 5, No. 1-2
Mirrors
Commissioned by the Anderson High School Wind Ensemble, Andrea Gonzalez, Director
for Concert Band
2020 || Difficulty 5 || 10 minutes (226 bars)-
Piccolo, 4 Flutes, 2 Oboes, English Horn, 2 Bassoons, Contrabassoon, 4 Clarinets in Bb, Bass Clarinet, Contra Alto Clarinet in Eb, 2 Alto Saxophones, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, 4 Trumpets in Bb, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trombones, Bass Trombone, 2 Euphoniums B.C., Tuba, String Bass, Timpani, 7 Percussionists, Piano/Keyboard
Premiere: May 8th, 2021 by the Anderson High School Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Cheryl Lee & Chase McCay.
Mirrors is a two-movement work commissioned by the Anderson High School Band. For a quarter-century, the Anderson Band has held an annual fundraiser known simply as “Flamingo-ing” that has supported its success and involvement in the community. I have had the pleasure of participating and helping to lead the fundraiser for four of those short years, and the process has been one of the most enriching experiences in my high school journey. Few high school programs can say they have upheld such a well-structured and successful fundraiser as Anderson, which could not have been accomplished without the hard work of Ms. Rickie Eddins.
Rickie Eddins began managing and leading the Flamingo-ing fundraiser in its second year, and has done so ever since. Her dedication, compassion, drive, and spirit has been an inspiration to all those who have been a part of the Anderson High School Band. In commemoration of her long-lived and continuous hard work, Mirrors speaks to the lasting impact that she and her program have left on our community. Beginning with a triumphant western-style fanfare, the piece charts the journey of persistence, joy, victory, and pride. The soft woodwind voices in the beginning of the second movement speak not only to the nostalgic appreciation for all that has been achieved, but the sorrowful joy in leaving the experiences behind as we grow older.
Mirrors tells the fulfilling story of twenty-five years of success, the journey of being young, and the most powerful element that binds band programs together: family.