Notes

Commissioned by the Southwest Indiana Festival of Bands, Inc., in memory of Ed Hamilton.

 

A Lion Legacy was composed for the 2022 Southwest Indiana Festival of Bands in honor of the late Loogootee High School (Martin County, Indiana) band director, Ed Hamilton. Rather than something lyrical, slow, and contemplative, the idea was for this piece to be celebratory in nature. Per the wishes of the participating programs and Mr. Hamilton’s family, A Lion Legacy honors favorite selected masterworks with special nods to American composers of the 20th century. In addition, Mr. Hamilton was known for beginning the tradition of performing “Battle Hymn of the Republic” at every Loogootee High School graduation ceremony, which this work quotes – including the arrangement’s infamous timpani solo.  

 

Ed Hamilton was a beloved and important member of the Southern Indiana music education community. Growing up in Martin County just outside of the Loogootee area, I have seen firsthand how much of an impact he made on future generations of musicians. It is my hope that his incredible Loogootee “Lion” legacy will be remembered through music written in his honor.  

 

The Southwest Indiana Festival of Bands was established in 1989 by Betsy Graves and Joyce Kim-Rohrer.  Both are now retired teachers but have been and continue to be instrumental in organizing the program every year. The festival’s initial mission was to allow small school bands to play excellent and challenging literature under the direction of respected guest conductors. In 2003, the directors decided to start commissioning new pieces and allow their students to be a part of the process. A Lion Legacy marks the sixth commissioned work since the program’s inception.