Composed by Alex Shapiro.
2016; Duration 5:45.
Published by Activist Music (ASCAP).
Grade 4 and beyond.
Click the arrow below
to enjoy the recording of
the April 2016 live premiere of MOMENT
by the University of Memphis Symphonic Band, conducted by Armand Hall.
MOMENT is available as a
physical, bound set of score and parts
plus audio download,
or as a digital set of .pdf score and parts,
plus audio download.
Pensive and emotional, the unusual, textural music of MOMENT offers reflection and stillness in an often frenetic world. Repeating notes and haunting, lyrical lines give musicians the opportunity to explore expression through subtlety. Evocative sounds conjure fleeting, contrasting images, as the wind band creates a seamless fabric woven from the union of their instruments, their chant-like voices, and the ghostly echoes of a wistful audio soundtrack. What are the moments that have moved you?
Enjoy this February 2017 performance of MOMENT,
performed by the University of Hawaii Wind Ensemble,
conducted Jeffrey Boeckman:
MOMENT lends itself to visuals.
One example is this slideshow of random, contrasting images
that the Jensen Beach High School Symphonic Band
put together
for their May 2016 premiere. Click to watch:
A flounder, stranded ashore
after high tide
A Bald eagle with an unlucky
Tiger Rockfish for lunch
PROGRAM NOTE
Our hearts are equally shaken by moments excruciatingly painful, and transcendentally beautiful. In a world in which emotions are often blunted by the assault of overload, we cannot allow ourselves to ignore profound, inner responses evoked in an instant. Awestruck. Hopeful. Grieving. Longing. Shocked. Weeping. Thinking. Amazed. Waiting. Stunned. Heartbroken. Transported. Hurting. Dreaming. Startled. Dismayed. Delighted. Caring. What are the moments that have moved you?
PROGRAM NOTE for download
PROGRAM BIO for Alex Shapiro
A sailboat passes the Olympics,
awash in the glow of the sunset
The composer's former rental home of five years,
consumed by wildfire
LIVE RECORDING
The mix of the April 2016 live premiere by the University of Memphis Symphonic Band, conducted by Armand Hall.
A 40 foot ketch, washed up onto the beach
after a storm
PERFORMANCE NOTES
The music of MOMENT is an agenda-less wash of evocative sound that will conjure different emotions for different listeners. The musicians in the ensemble perform a textural role, as long lines and repeated notes waft in and out of the fabric of the track, blending seamlessly. Their haunting, chant-like voices emerge, to count the moments.
Multimedia notes:
If desired, the addition of emotionally stimulating photos or video projected in the background is encouraged. Alex Shapiro has many appropriate photographs that she is pleased to make available, some of which can be seen on this page.
Ensembles are also encouraged to raise environmental awareness by presenting a visual juxtaposition between the tremendous beauty of our planet, and the immense harm it has suffered from the actions of humans: drinking water poisoned by fracking; oceans clogged with bird and fish-killing plastics; landscapes permanently altered by mining and drilling; species mutated by radiation and pesticides. These are only a few examples of non-political topics with something in common: there is still time for humans to change their behaviors, and to make a difference.
Here's something VERY helpful: a complete guide to the software and hardware setup for your band room and performance venue.
A distraught mother barn swallow
attempts to feed her dead baby
WEBHEARSALS
Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Webex, etc. are wonderful tools for affordably bringing Alex into your rehearsal, without having to book a plane flight! She has a great time coaching students, and the difference between their musicianship at the beginning of the session and by the time it ends, is remarkable.
Alex can tell the ensemble about how the piece was created and engage them in conversation, and even show them how her digital project studio works! It's also easy to arrange to have her say hello to the audience during a concert, via a custom video. Webhearsals connect musicians to the real person-- and the stories-- behind the notes on the music stands. Get in touch with Alex-- her contact info is at the bottom of this page.
To see some examples of webhearsals, and the view Alex loves to share from her desk, click here.
Alex was an early adopter of online "webhearsals"! Here's one from December 2012 with Alex in her studio
on Washington's San Juan Island, and band director
Mary Bauer and the Mt. Mansfield Union High School Band far across the continent in Vermont.
James Smart conducting MOMENT
at University of Montana, Nov. 2016.
ADDITIONAL READING
Alex has written an extensive two-part article about electroacoustic band music and the uses of multimedia in the concert world. The essay, titled The e-Frontier: Music, Multimedia, Education, and Audiences in the Digital World echoes multimedia presentations she has given at The 2013 Midwest Clinic, the 2014 TMEA convention, and countless other seminars. It appears in the June and September 2014 issues of the magazine of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles, WASBE World, and the .pdf is offered here with the very kind permission of the organization.
Bemidji Senior High School,
Derek Wickum, Director;
Bemidji, MN
Central Dauphin High School,
Matthew Carraher, Director;
Harrisburg, PA
Charlotte Youth Wind Ensemble,
Shawn Smith, Director;
Charlotte, NC
Fountain-Fort Carson High School,
Jason Nitsch, Director;
Fountain, CO
Gilford High School,
Lyvie Beyrent, Director;
Gilford, NH
James Logan High School,
Adam Wilke, Director;
Union City, CA
Jensen Beach High School,
Thomas C. Dougherty, Director;
Jensen Beach FL
Los Altos High School,
Ted Ferrucci, Director;
Los Altos, CA
Loveland High School,
Geoffrey Miller, Director;
Loveland, OH
Mount Mansfield Union High School,
Mary Bauer, Director;
Jericho, VT
Mount Rainier High School,
Jordan Beckman, Director;
Des Moines, WA
Octorara Area High School,
Scott Cullen, Director;
Atglen, PA
Santa Teresa High School,
Julie Bounds, Director;
San Jose, CA
University of Arkansas,
Dr. Jamal Duncan, Director;
Fayetteville, AR
University of Memphis,
Dr. Armand Hall, Director;
Memphis, TN
Warhawk Summer Band Camp,
Glenn Hayes, Director;
Whitewater, WI
White River High School,
Dr. Rich Kuntzelman, Director;
Buckley, WA
Very special thanks to CSIC Executive Director Lisa Oman.
Vicious? Or just sleepy?
A fox opens wide
CONTACT INFO
The
VERY best way to reach Alex is
through email, by clicking here
LICENSES:
Every work in Ms. Shapiro's catalog is published by Activist Music LLC unless otherwise indicated. Synchronization and mechanical rights are included free of charge for music educators and non-profit ensembles wishing to stream and upload their performance to YouTube, etc. or create a virtual recording and video of this piece, subject to written approval from Ms. Shapiro prior to publicly posting the media.
ALL licensing inquiries, including marching band or other arrangements, audio recording, broadcast, synchronization to video or dance, etc., are handled DIRECTLY by Ms. Shapiro and Activist Music LLC. Please avoid the unnecessary expense of third party businesses, and send an email with the details of your request by clicking HERE.
A harbor seal devours
a Giant Pacific Red Octopus
ADDITIONAL MUSIC
Alex loves writing for band! You can listen to any of her other pieces by clicking here
A wisp of clouds is backlit by
a San Juan Island sunset
The photos throughout this page are random moments of joy, drama, and grief that caught Alex's attention. You can see more of what's on the other side of her lens, by clicking over to Alex's blog, Notes from the Kelp, here
A gull suddenly alights from a rooftop,
into the sun
