CONCERT BAND MEETS
Player One Press Start (band and audio track)
Standard Concert Band plus electronic audio track
4 minutes
Grade 2.5
Available to the general public to start performing on October 1, 2023. (Consortium members have exclusive performance rights until then. If you are desirous to perform the piece before October 1, please consider joining the consortium below! It is not too late!)
4 minutes
Grade 2.5
Available to the general public to start performing on October 1, 2023. (Consortium members have exclusive performance rights until then. If you are desirous to perform the piece before October 1, please consider joining the consortium below! It is not too late!)
About the work
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Consortium Director Michael Ahearn and Composer Benjamin Taylor have partnered to create an exciting new work inspired by the timeless 8-bit soundtracks of classic retro video games; titles like Zelda, Tetris, Pac-man, Galaga, Galaxian, Sonic, etc. For those directors that may have never programmed a work with electronics, please be assured that the electronic track is as simple as hitting play on the audio track. (Like in Techno Blade, ie, no complicated tech required, and no click track, just a pair of speakers).
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PROGRAM NOTE
I can remember first playing video games with my brothers and friends on the Atari my dad bought - Space Invaders and Frogger were a few of my favorites! A few years later we got a Nintendo for Christmas and then a Gameboy which got me hooked on games like Mario Bros, Zelda, Tetris, Dr. Mario, Contra and Donkey Kong. Even after all these years, those early 8-bit games still have a very special place in my heart. (It was very hard for me not to list twenty or thirty more of my favorite games here...) Even now, in 2022 I enjoy playing Rally-X, Pac-man or Final Fantasy when taking a break from work. (haha! I snuck a few more game titles into this program note!) So why not combine my love of retro games and their simplistic yet catchy soundtracks with my love of writing for band? My answer: Player One Press Start. I hope this piece brings back great memories of problem solving and exploration, finding and sharing new moves in Mortal Combat or Sonic, all while consuming way too much junk food during late night summer sleep-overs. Who knew that a few blips and bleeps could bring back so much nostalgia and fun!? “Here we go!”
I can remember first playing video games with my brothers and friends on the Atari my dad bought - Space Invaders and Frogger were a few of my favorites! A few years later we got a Nintendo for Christmas and then a Gameboy which got me hooked on games like Mario Bros, Zelda, Tetris, Dr. Mario, Contra and Donkey Kong. Even after all these years, those early 8-bit games still have a very special place in my heart. (It was very hard for me not to list twenty or thirty more of my favorite games here...) Even now, in 2022 I enjoy playing Rally-X, Pac-man or Final Fantasy when taking a break from work. (haha! I snuck a few more game titles into this program note!) So why not combine my love of retro games and their simplistic yet catchy soundtracks with my love of writing for band? My answer: Player One Press Start. I hope this piece brings back great memories of problem solving and exploration, finding and sharing new moves in Mortal Combat or Sonic, all while consuming way too much junk food during late night summer sleep-overs. Who knew that a few blips and bleeps could bring back so much nostalgia and fun!? “Here we go!”
Consortium Membership
BUY-IN $200 per ensemble
To become a consortium member, please buy-in using the paypal link below. For all other arrangements such as checks, please email the composer directly at benjamintaylormusic@gmail.com
You will receive a set of PDF score and parts upon joining the consortium. Your school's name will be listed on the published score.
To become a consortium member, please buy-in using the paypal link below. For all other arrangements such as checks, please email the composer directly at benjamintaylormusic@gmail.com
You will receive a set of PDF score and parts upon joining the consortium. Your school's name will be listed on the published score.
Commissioned by
Mt. Vernon High School - Fortville, IN. Michael Ahearn, Director.
Consortium Director
Cedar Hill Middle School - Victoria, B.C., Canada. Cindy Romphf, Director.
Beyond The Notes Music Festival, Inc. Chris Gleason, Director.
Saline Middle School - Saline, MI. Rebekah Allmand, Benjamin Reed, Directors.
North Crawford High School - Soldiers Grove, WI. Derrik Junker, Director.
Clay City Jr/Sr High School - Clay City, IN. Matt Harvey, Director.
Galena Park Middle School - Galena Park, TX. Justin Allen, Brandon Rios, Directors.
Hartland Middle School at Ore Creek - Hartland, MI. Joe Guarr, Director.
Center Grove Middle School Central - Greenwood, IN. Dan Herrick, Director.
Wydown Middle School - Clayton, MO. Jennifer Shenberger, Tricia Holm, Directors.
Lakeland Preparatory School - Lakeland, TN. Brent Hopper, Micaiah Radcliffe, Directors.
Paradise Valley High School - Phoenix, AZ. Ryan Diefenderfer, Director.
Smith Middle School - Cleburne, TX. Matthew Hiller, Tanner Carter, Matt Bibb, Directors.
West Aurora High School - Aurora, IL. John Sierakowski, Director.
Kentucky Wesleyan College - Owensboro, KY. Dr. Patrick Stuckemeyer, Director.
Grafton High School - Grafton, WI. Joseph Brown, Director.
La Porte High School - La Porte, IN. Joe Clark, Matt Sullivan, Directors.
Prairie Ridge High School - Crystal Lake, IL. Marykate Kuhne, Director.
Northeastern High School - Springfield, OH. Guthrie Douglas, Director.
Sutton Middle/High School - Sutton, MA. Justin Falvo, Director.
Manheim Central Middle and High Schools - Manheim, PA. John Brackbill, Karl Segletes and Alex Schweizer, Directors.
Oyster Bay High School - Oyster Bay, NY. Matthew Sisia, Director.
Chesterton Middle School - Chesterton, IN. Vince Arizzi, Joe Nuzzo, Directors.
San José State University - San José, CA. Dr. David Vickerman, Director.
Kawananakoa Middle School - Honolulu, HI. Guy Avery Lum Jr., Director.
Ellen Fletcher Middle School - Palo Alto, CA. Mark Dungan, Director.
Garrett High School - Garrett, IN. Josh Hettinger, Director.
Leawood Middle School - Leawood, KS. Michael Solomon, Director.
Elkhorn North High School - Elkhorn, NE. Matthew Rom, Director.
Plainfield Community Middle School - Plainfield, IN. Erika Stepp, Director.
Rochester High School - Rochester Hills, MI. David Uhrig, Director.
Wiesbaden High School (DoDEA) - USAG Wiesbaden, Germany. Andrew M. Goldie, Director.
Burlington High School - Burlington, MA. Sean Buchsbaum, Director.
Century High School - Bismarck, ND. Chris Dasovick, Erik Stordalen, Directors.
Jackson Creek Middle School - Bloomington, IN. Joe Donnelly, Director.
Batchelor MS - Bloomington, IN. Joel Brainard, Director.
Consortium Members
Mt. Vernon High School - Fortville, IN. Michael Ahearn, Director.
Consortium Director
Cedar Hill Middle School - Victoria, B.C., Canada. Cindy Romphf, Director.
Beyond The Notes Music Festival, Inc. Chris Gleason, Director.
Saline Middle School - Saline, MI. Rebekah Allmand, Benjamin Reed, Directors.
North Crawford High School - Soldiers Grove, WI. Derrik Junker, Director.
Clay City Jr/Sr High School - Clay City, IN. Matt Harvey, Director.
Galena Park Middle School - Galena Park, TX. Justin Allen, Brandon Rios, Directors.
Hartland Middle School at Ore Creek - Hartland, MI. Joe Guarr, Director.
Center Grove Middle School Central - Greenwood, IN. Dan Herrick, Director.
Wydown Middle School - Clayton, MO. Jennifer Shenberger, Tricia Holm, Directors.
Lakeland Preparatory School - Lakeland, TN. Brent Hopper, Micaiah Radcliffe, Directors.
Paradise Valley High School - Phoenix, AZ. Ryan Diefenderfer, Director.
Smith Middle School - Cleburne, TX. Matthew Hiller, Tanner Carter, Matt Bibb, Directors.
West Aurora High School - Aurora, IL. John Sierakowski, Director.
Kentucky Wesleyan College - Owensboro, KY. Dr. Patrick Stuckemeyer, Director.
Grafton High School - Grafton, WI. Joseph Brown, Director.
La Porte High School - La Porte, IN. Joe Clark, Matt Sullivan, Directors.
Prairie Ridge High School - Crystal Lake, IL. Marykate Kuhne, Director.
Northeastern High School - Springfield, OH. Guthrie Douglas, Director.
Sutton Middle/High School - Sutton, MA. Justin Falvo, Director.
Manheim Central Middle and High Schools - Manheim, PA. John Brackbill, Karl Segletes and Alex Schweizer, Directors.
Oyster Bay High School - Oyster Bay, NY. Matthew Sisia, Director.
Chesterton Middle School - Chesterton, IN. Vince Arizzi, Joe Nuzzo, Directors.
San José State University - San José, CA. Dr. David Vickerman, Director.
Kawananakoa Middle School - Honolulu, HI. Guy Avery Lum Jr., Director.
Ellen Fletcher Middle School - Palo Alto, CA. Mark Dungan, Director.
Garrett High School - Garrett, IN. Josh Hettinger, Director.
Leawood Middle School - Leawood, KS. Michael Solomon, Director.
Elkhorn North High School - Elkhorn, NE. Matthew Rom, Director.
Plainfield Community Middle School - Plainfield, IN. Erika Stepp, Director.
Rochester High School - Rochester Hills, MI. David Uhrig, Director.
Wiesbaden High School (DoDEA) - USAG Wiesbaden, Germany. Andrew M. Goldie, Director.
Burlington High School - Burlington, MA. Sean Buchsbaum, Director.
Century High School - Bismarck, ND. Chris Dasovick, Erik Stordalen, Directors.
Jackson Creek Middle School - Bloomington, IN. Joe Donnelly, Director.
Batchelor MS - Bloomington, IN. Joel Brainard, Director.
Consortium Members
Here is a quick little video demo for the "blow air" technique I want in measures 3-7 in the winds.
https://youtu.be/c6HoWQSa-uQ
https://youtu.be/c6HoWQSa-uQ
Photo attribution: Flickr.com "Gameboy" from Gehirnfussel. Used with permission under creative commons license 2.0
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