Bands orchestrate aviation's first 100 years

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Gailyn Whitman
  • Air Force Materiel Command Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFPN) --  Celebrating the 100th anniversary of powered flight, Air Force Band of Flight musicians here are working with five professional composers to set history to music.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of powered flight and celebrations are scheduled across the nation to honor the Wright brothers' achievements. Band of Flight musicians were called on to host several events with the U.S. Air Force Museum here throughout the year.

But since the band lacked sufficient music in their collection to perform the mission, they "looked for help from some professional Air Force friends in the music business," said Lt. Col. Alan Sierichs, band commander. "My job as music director is producing a music program to deliver the message the museum would like to send during this celebration."

Sierichs enlisted five professional composers, three are former Air Force band members, to write the music for this yearlong celebration. Once written, the music was shared with Air Force bands around the country to help them perform their mission.

Preparations for the centennial celebration began early in 2001, when Sierichs met with four of the selected composers. He said as a group, they toured the museum and studied the Air Force's history of powered flight.

"Each composer came away with a different perspective and approach to the centennial to help provide the band with music," he said.

The Band of Flight's biggest project this year involves a combined concert with the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra from Ohio. The orchestra asked the Band of Flight to join them for the closing piece of their centennial of flight concert set for May 11. As a result, Sierichs said a piece needed to be written to combine both the orchestra and the band.

"This combination is something that has never been done before," he said. "The music had to be written specially for the event."

Sierichs and Neil Gittleman, Dayton Philharmonic conductor, called on Ron Foster to compose the music. Foster is a retired Air Force band member known to both conductors.

His composition took nearly a year to write and required special sheet music to be developed to include instruments from both organizations, Sierichs said. The result is called "On the Wings of Angels."

"It's a unique piece that has a bit of a twist," said Sierichs. "The Air Force band will be playing an unusual form of percussion instruments -- aircraft parts such as brake drums and chimes made from bleed tubing salvaged from aircraft wings.

"Two propellers are going to be mounted and played, not only bringing the piece an interesting sound, but a wonderful visual effect," he said.

The combined concert will help tell the Air Force historical story, Sierichs said, and it is also a huge honor for the band.

"To be recognized as equals with the orchestra will most likely be the highlight of the year for band members," he said.

Regarding the composers selected to set history to music, Ken Miller, a retired Air Force Academy band member and current Hollywood composer, was called upon for what Sierichs called a unique assignment. Miller is writing a selection for the museum's aviation art show openings.

Two of Miller's compositions were already heard this year by guests who attended the art show opening of Keith Ferris' work in January and guests who viewed works from a selection of artist in April, the band commander said.

Nearly 1,300 people attended the art show's April 12 opening and enjoyed the work of five noted aviation artists set to music, according to retired Maj. Gen. Charles Metcalf, the museum's director.

"The band outdoes itself every time," Metcalf said. "The music was a wonderful complement to these great works of art."

Miller wrote music for the academy band for nearly 20 years. According to Sierichs, Miller's work on the centennial project was practically a donation as a continuation of his Air Force service.

Julie Giroux, another Hollywood composer and daughter of an Air Force member, signed on for the project. During her career she trained under Bill Conti, a Hollywood composer famous for the "Rocky" movies. After achieving success in Hollywood, Giroux chose to end her Hollywood career to pursue composing music for bands.

Sierichs said Giroux provided the Band of Flight with a six-part suite of music with lyrics for the centennial celebration.

"Her creativity gives a unique perspective to the Air Force's development of flight," he said.

The fourth composer, Lisa DeSpain, was never an Air Force band member nor were her parents Air Force members, but she has a history of composing music for Air Force bands, Sierichs said.

DeSpain has composed two pieces for the centennial celebration. The first is a concert fanfare which Sierichs said helps set the tone for a more formal concert program. The second piece was written to communicate the story of the Wright brothers' evolution from bicycles to airplanes. It is called "The Bicycle Shop" and is considered a novelty piece.

The final composer is another retired Air Force band member, Sierichs said. Ed Hureau wrote the music which involves light, upbeat music for after dinner shows.

According to Sierichs, Hureau's music will be used for occasions when the museum is hosting special dinner functions.

The Air Force Band of Flight also has a composer of its own, the band commander said. Master Sgt. Al Wittig writes many of the bands tunes and will be contributing to the bands centennial of flight music program. Wittig's work can be heard at more than 400 engagements throughout the year.

According to Sierichs, it would be easy to book the band 365 days a year, but crew rest time is essential for morale.

He said this year will be a busy one for all Air Force bands and training is key to maintaining proficiency. Band members must train just like other members of the Air Force. The scheduler must build in training time along with the performances to complete the mission, Sierichs said.

"What people see in public is just the tip of the iceberg," he said. "Band members spend an entire duty day (setting) up for a show prior to the event. During the evening, the band will meet to do sound checks which can take several hours. After an event is over, it takes another entire duty day to tear down the staging and move it on to the next location."

Many times the band is the first contact many civilians have with the Air Force. The importance of the band is evident in that their performance reflects on the Air Force as a whole, and how the Air Force does its job, Sierichs said.

"Band members know it is their job to present the Air Force in the best possible light," he said. (Courtesy of Air Force Materiel Command News Service)