Music of Andrew F. Poor

Commissioned by the Feagin Mill Middle School Band (Warner Robins, Georgia), Lloyd McDonald, Director of Bands in the fall of 2015. The work is dedicated to the children of members of our armed forces and the ongoing sacrifices these children make on behalf of our country. The work is divided into three sections—Service, Sacrifice and Tribute—and each section honors different aspects of this commitment. The Service section (measures 1 to 23) is a blending of various patriotic melodic fragments, including, Star-Spangled Banner, America the Beautiful and Taps. These children are surrounding by patriotic music throughout their everyday lives. This section of the work symbolizes the dedication and purpose for the service for both the parents and the children. Sacrifice (measures 24-39) is longingly lyrical portion of the work loosely based on the melodic structure of Taps and symbolizes the heartfelt losses the children are often forced to endure. These sacrifices, include, long and u...

On the Wings of a Griffin was composed for the inaugural performance by the South Forsyth Middle School Sixth-Grade Advanced Band in the spring of 2016. Premiered at the Forsyth County Concert Band Festival on February 19, 2016, the two-part work is in C-minor and showcases the entire ensemble. A Griffin is a mythological creature with the body of a lion and the wings and talons of an eagle. The creature was the symbol of divine power and can be found on the crests of countless kings and royal courts. The beginning section (measures 1-12) is bold and dramatic based on fragments of the primary melody later in the work, and is symbolic of the power and majesty of the creature. The second section is the creature taking flight and features a gradual building of the rhythmic ostinato underneath the melody. At measure 41, the percussion section is featured and is symbolic of a potential conflict with the creature. This section leads to a final restatement of the melody (measure 55-63) s...

Composed for the students of South Forsyth Middle School in Cumming, Georgia. This work for young bands was composed as a lyrical showcase for the composer’s students and is composed in a binary form—AABA. The primary theme is first presented as a plaintive clarinet solo/optional trumpet (measure 2) and has some folk-like qualities performed over a pedal-point. The second presentation of the A theme (measure 19) is presented by the trumpets and enhanced harmonic vocabulary. The B theme (measure 35) moves to the relative minor (C minor), represents the clouds briefly covering our horizon, and the melody is passed through various woodwind instruments. A cadential extension leads us to a full tutti statement of the A theme (measure 53), which is followed by a brief concluding section at measure 67. The Coda to the piece features a fragmenting and augmenting of the main melody, which is shared through various instruments and leads us to a final cadence. As the title suggests, the piece...

Victorious Souls was commissioned by the congregation of the Madison United Methodist Church, Madison, Alabama, and their orchestra director, Sandy Weisner. The Madison UMC Church Orchestra premiered Victorious Souls in May of 2014. Victorious Souls was selected as a J.W. Pepper Editor's Choice in 2015. The goal of the commission was to write an uplifting and exciting work for young musicians. The title, and the idea behind the work, was a result of my fascination and inspiration by stories of survival and overcoming extreme difficulties. Personally speaking, the strength of the human spirit is a source of constant inspiration to me as both a person and as a composer. While not a religious theme, nor was there an intent to compose a sacred work, the inspiration for the work did resonate with the commissioning organization. The composition is an overture for young bands that uses a cyclical form: A-B-C-B-A. Beginning with a brief and bold fanfare, the piece quickly moves into t...

Over the next month, there are several exciting events that will be happening with my music. On May 8, my new work, March of the Lava Fields, published by Northeastern Music Publications is being premiered by the Forsyth County 6th Grade Honor Band at Piney Grove Middle School (Cumming, Georgia), Dr. Steven Tyndall, conducting. On May 11 , my newest piece with Barnhouse, Heart and Home, will be premiered by the South Forsyth Middle School Symphonic Band. This piece is dedicated to my father, William Poor, and he will be in attendance at the premiere. On May 15-16 , I will be traveling to Hattiesburg, Mississippi, to work with the Oak Grove High School Marching Band as they begin their 2015 marching band season. From May 23-May31 , I will be traveling to Rockford, Illinois, to work with the musicians of the Phantom Regiment as they begin to prepare for their 2015 summer tour performing their production, Paris: City of Gold!