Synthesis Drop

Description

Synthesis Drop for concert wind band

Duration: approx. 7′

Commissioned by the Frisco ISD Fine Arts Department for dedication of the Frisco ISD Visual and Performing Arts Center; Preston Hazzard, Managing Director, and Chris Cansler, Assistant Director of Fine Arts
In honor of Jim McDaniel, former Frisco ISD Director of Fine Arts. Listed below are all of the current head Frisco ISD high school band directors.

• Centennial HS: Andy Rein
• Emerson HS: Bryn Roberts
• Frisco HS: David Simon
• Heritage HS: Jason Prasifka
• Independence HS: Daniel King
• Lebanon Trail HS: Kelly Wykoff
• Liberty HS: Ana Hinojosa-Santi
• Lone Star HS: Mark Poole
• Memorial HS: Mark Teal
• Panther Creek HS: Kent Wallis
• Reedy HS: Logan Stalcup
• Wakeland HS: Rylon Guidry

Instrumentation:

piccolo, flute 1-2, oboe 1-2, English horn, bassoon 1-2
Eb clarinet, Bb clarinets 1-3, Bass clarinet
Alto saxophone 1-2, Tenor saxophone, Baritone saxophone

Bb trumpet 1-4, French horn 1-3, trombone 1-2, Bass trombone
euphonium 1-2, tuba (minimum 2 players)
Double bass

Timpani + up to 8 percussion
Percussion instrumentation (7 players, option for 8):
Percussion 1: xylophone, rain-stick
*Percussion 2 (2 players): marimba
*Percussion 3 (option for 2 players): glockenspiel, crotales, sus. cym., crash cymbals, triangle
Percussion 4: snare drum, tambourine, 4 toms, ratchet, ride cym., high timbale, vibra-slap, congas, sus. cym., Hi-hat (closed)
Percussion 5: wood block, sus. cym., shaker, rain-stick, bongos, snare drum, splash cym., triangle
Percussion 6: bass drum, triangle, tam-tam, tambourine

Program Notes:

Synthesis Drop… the name might not seem apropos to the task at hand: a new piece for a new building. However, my approach to this wonderful opportunity was more of a philosophical one, rather than “let’s see what sort of “fanfare-esque” piece I can create to celebrate a new building.

The definition of synthesis is: “the combination of ideas to form a theory or system.” I recall having a history class in high school where the teacher went at great lengths to describe “thesis vs. antithesis, resulting in synthesis.” It has stuck with me for 40 years. And I figured, since I had learned it in high school, why not put it to use to celebrate a building for high school students? And I can only imagine the amount of *synthesis* needed for many minds to come together to produce and decide upon a final proposal for a new building.

Now for the “drop” part. When this piece was formulating in my mind, I happened to be on a family vacation in Hawaii. And while there, I heard a ton of reggae music as we cruised around the island. I couldn’t stop thinking about how I might incorporate those (to me) fascinating and “cool” sounds into a new work. A work that wouldn’t be reggae at all, but might use some of its components. In other words, a *synthesis* of sounds. In reggae, a “one-drop” is a technique used where – as might seem obvious – the first beat is dropped to exaggerate a syncopated rhythm. I borrowed some of this and incorporated small aspects of this technique. Lastly, I wanted to make sure the piece had the exuberance and technical virtuosity to show off these fantastic high school students and their abilities, so that the new building would be represented in an exciting fashion.

Therefore, there are three main components to this piece: the opening note-filled woodwind line, the somewhat “chill” but later foreboding bass line motif at Rehearsal letter G, and then the trumpet solo at Rehearsal J. The piece goes about exploring all three of these ideas, until finally, at the end, all three are put together – in a *synthesis* – in what should be a joyous outburst of sound to blow the roof off (not literally, of course) the new building being celebrated!

— Jim Stephenson; July, 2025