Freedom was commissioned by the Smithtown Community Band (Smithtown, N.Y.) for their 2018 Summer Concert Series.  The director, Mr. William T. Link, wanted something that could be considered "film music" to fit with their season-long theme.  As I was writing this, I thought about our troops and tried to imagine their emotions as they finally traveled home to their families.  The title Freedom can suggest many possible scenarios - the end of a tour of duty, the end of wearing combat gear, the end of living half of a world away from family - even the end of a war itself.  That is for the listener to decide.

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     On a technical level, the piece is meant to be played in one, with a gentle flow.  The accompaniment rhythms in the introduction and first theme should be a subtle undulation propelling the rhythmic energy forward.  The middle section should be played with warmth, while the recapitulation should give hint of a positive outcome in the end.  In the last five measures, conduct the rhythms more than the downbeats; use the Lento section to truly pull back the energy and end the piece with a true resolution.