MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: JOSH TRENTADUE, "SYMPHONY NO. 1"

Josh Trentadue · I. Prologue v1 DEMO [wind ensemble]

Last year, a group of artists joined forces to begin work on a brand-new, multimedia, interdisciplinary piece. MCI composer Josh Trentadue's ambitious first symphony narrates a musical battle between two disparate mediums, post-bop jazz and contemporary classical music. Within the symphony's narrative framework, six artists comprising this post-bop jazz combo have each brought to the project's conceptual ideas an issue relevant to our ongoing political and global climate they will be speaking out on through their own musical artistry, making their voices heard.

The symphony additionally explores how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues to an exponential level. Meanwhile, a separate soloist (fulfilled by a seventh guest artist) will undergo a spiritual journey in their quest to unite these two mediums on common ground, stop the chaos, and continue to fight for systemic change together.

The wind ensemble version of this symphony is commissioned by MCI member Jeff Herwig, the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Three Rivers Wind Symphony. MCI members Jordan VanHemert and Kevin Day join the symphony's jazz combo on tenor saxophone and piano. Additional personnel includes Emily Dierickx, Lillie Christie, Amanda Ruzza, and Kevin Keith in the jazz combo, and Amy Rosendall serving a dual role as the symphony's solo flutist and sound healer.

The wind ensemble version is currently scheduled to be premiered on December 9, 2021. An orchestral version of this symphony is additionally in the works with the project's guest artists.

VanHemert, Day, Herwig, and Trentadue have each written the following about their involvement with this ambitious, multi-year endeavor:

JORDAN VANHEMERT

I think the thing that inspired me to join this project was the people. I believe that music is about connections--relationships, and having worked with both Josh, Kevin Day, and Kevin Keith before, I knew that this was going to be a special project. I am glad that the piece will give me the opportunity to bring Asian-American activism to life. While activism is important, I am so excited to be able to make music with great musicians, as well as work with new friends and the Three Rivers Wind Symphony.

KEVIN DAY

I’ve never been part of a project so exciting, important, and culturally relevant to our current time as this. The size and scope of this work, as well as the subject matters contained therein, make for an experience that will be riveting and captivating. I’m glad that the symphony will give me the opportunity to bring forward my experience as a Black American, in dealing with the issues of police brutality and racial inequality. I’m immensely grateful for the opportunity to be able to perform with an all-star group of friends and colleagues, both old and new. This project is truly special, and I look forward to being part of bringing this tour-de-force composition to life.

JEFF HERWIG

There are several aspects to this project that inspired me to jump on board. I am a huge advocate for new music, and am always looking to help commission pieces by living composers in order to add quality works to the wind band repertoire. There is something so satisfying about participating in the creation of something new. However, this work is not just a new piece of music. In my opinion, it is a revolutionary work making use of so many different things that one would not typically think could mesh well together. Just combining a traditional wind ensemble with a jazz combo seems incredible on its own, but Josh is also incorporating multimedia, poetry, electronics, and solo flute! And he's not just mashing those things all into one piece because he can - he's doing it masterfully. I love the main message behind this work - becoming united in a time of division and unrest in our society. And I also love that Josh's creative process was a fully collaborative effort, where each of the guest artists are speaking their truths and making their own voices heard.

The Three Rivers Wind Symphony's mission is as follows:

• Enhance and expand upon the wind band repertoire by commissioning composers of all genders, races, nationalities, and sexual orientations, providing the opportunity for everyone to be heard.
• Increase awareness of the wind band and its diverse repertoire through public performances and recordings of the highest quality.
• Serve as an advocate for participation in school band programs through educational initiatives in the Greater Pittsburgh Region.

Art can serve as a call to action, and I truly believe that this project has the ability to make a change. By helping commission, perform, and (hopefully) record this work, I hope that I can help spread the message of unity and inspire genuine systemic change in our society. I am just so grateful to Josh for reaching out to me in the very early planning stages of this project to see what I thought, and to ask if I wanted to be involved! I'm honored that he would trust me in helping bring this massive and extraordinary work to life.

When the time comes that we can gather in performance halls again, and this piece finally gets the chance to breathe its messages of hope and unity into the ears of its audiences, it's going to be absolutely incredible. I consider myself beyond lucky to be the conductor of its premiere.

JOSH TRENTADUE

When the idea for this symphony first came to mind about a year ago, I was particularly interested in exploring writing a work which would fuse multiple genres together. The circumstances of this piece changed when the COVID-19 pandemic devastated the earth - no one, a year ago, could have ever imagined we would be where we are now. So much pain, and death, and grieving, and untold suffering.

Much of my compositional career has been spent writing music for friends and colleagues in our greater community. I am so thrilled to be working with a great group of artists and friends on this project. More than this, I am grateful for the opportunity of a true artistic collaboration with this group, witnessing them talk about the many different issues currently pervading our planet and species through their artistry, musicianship, and voices.

I do not know where I would be without these people and this project.
​They have kept me going. They have given me hope for a better future.

---

​To learn more about this project and view previews of the symphony, visit
www.motifsymphonyone.com

@motifsymphony1 (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, SoundCloud)

Band directors - the consortium for this project is open until March 1. Payment is due/postmarked by June 1. A portion of all consortium funding this project earns will be donated to the following ​​charities/organizations:
​
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
Asian Americans for Equality
United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women)
American Mental Wellness Association
COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund (WHO)
…And We Were Heard