Description

Elegy was written in memory of the composer’s friend and teacher, Wallace R. Cleaveland (1919–1999), who served as the band and orchestra conductor at Highland High School in Albuquerque, New Mexico, from 1954 to 1984.

The piece is composed in a loose ABA form. The A sections feature lush chord progressions spread across various instrument groups, while the B section presents the composer’s take on one of his favorite hymn tunes, O Breathe on Me, O Breath of God—a hymn set to an ancient Irish folk melody.

Grade: IV

Duration: 6:00