Sunday, March 4, 2018 at 3:40 PM at the Ruth Taylor Auditorium at Trinity University in San Antonio the Symphonic Wind Ensemble premiered Dr. Timothy Mahr’s first symphony. I was honored to be a part of this special event. Dr. Mahr’s idea was to have several organizations join a consortium to support the this composition and making it possible for Dr. Mahr to compose this work. So this was one of several “premier” performances, it took a village to create this wonderful symphony. This work had so many delightful melodies, at least one in every movement and most movements had 2 or 3. From the opening movement with it’s Rite of Spring-like solo flute, to in the 3rd movement to what the composer himself referred to as a bad Cold Play-like theme and the finale movement with it’s excitement and the big finale. Lots of solos which the Trinity students performed perfectly. The ensemble performed this difficult and unique piece with a musical sensitivity rarely found in a young college ensemble. The conductor Dr. James Worman is known in the collegiate circles as a conductor of note, he proved to be one of the finest conductors I have had the pleasure of performing with.
The symphony was in four movments:
Symphony No. 1 (2016)
I. E Pluribus Unum
II. “… to give up every favorite pusuit and lay their shoulder to the work of the day.”
III. “I Thank my God upon every remembrance of you.
IV. “Only in the darkness can you see the stars.