A nice start to my summer (in what I'm hoping is becoming an annual tradition!) with the release of "Pelican Dance" from Carl Fischer AND, for the second consecutive year, the J.W. Pepper selection as an "Editor's Choice" for new band works. The piece may be previewed (full score and recording) and purchased on the Pepper website: https://www.jwpepper.com/Pelican-Dance/11516643.item#.ZFwTFbKJK2E

It's always encouraging to discover that music I've written is being used by performers around the world. I recently discovered this (not new) performance of "Overture on ADESTE FIDELES" performed beautifully by Banda Sinfônica da Base Aérea de São Paulo, Brazil, directed by 1st Lieutenant Moisés de Souza Ferreira. Enjoy!

I am pleased to announce a continuing relationship with Carl Fischer Publications with the coming release of "Pelican Dance" in 2023 and "Elegy" in 2024. Both of these pieces were written for our University of Mobile Honor Band - "Elegy" being the very first one I wrote for that event back in 2014 and "Pelican Dance" for our most recent Honor Band in February of this year. I am grateful for this continued opportunity AND the fact that Carl Fischer is asking for more. I hope this partnership will continue for quite a long time!

There are now two more ways to find and purchase music by Steve Dunn...

I now have a page on J.W. Pepper (www.jwpepper.com) where I offer a few of my pieces - with more to come. The emphasis on this page is more on school related music, but some church options are also available. You can preview the pieces with both a recording and view of the full score.

I'm pleased to be included on the new Church Orchestra Music website (www.churchorchestramusic.com). This site features a huge selection of music from many of the best known writers of instrumental music in the country today - as well as great music from writers who are less familiar. It is constantly being updated and is the new "first stop" as you are seeking instrumental music for worship. Again, all music can be previewed with both recordings and scores.

A nice start to my summer with the release of "A New Horizon" from Carl Fischer AND the J.W. Pepper selection as an "Editor's Choice" for new band works. The piece may be previewed (full score and recording) and purchased on the Pepper website: https://www.jwpepper.com/A-New-Horizon/11399499.item#.Yptq5ahKi2E 

It is interesting to me to look back and see who "dropped by" to visit sdunnmusic.com this past year. I realize that this is a small "operation" here; so to see that thousands of individuals from 52 different countries stopped to take a look and give a listen is amazing and humbling for me. I do hope there has been some value derived from your visit and hope you'll come back. (And, hey - if you want to buy something or make personal contact for any reason, that would be great, too. :))

Blessings to everyone for a brand new year!

I am pleased to share that "A New Horizon", which was composed earlier in 2021 and has been available on this site for much of this year, will be released in 2022 by Carl Fischer. It is my first publication with them and I am excited to begin what I hope will be an ongoing partnership with this long-established and respected music publisher. 

Because of this new association, "A New Horizon" will no longer be available through SDunnMusic.com - though you will still be able to listen to the demo and get information about purchasing the piece on this site. 

I am happy to announce the addition of a new work for Wind Band, now available here at sdunnmusic.com! You can hear a recording and learn how to purchase the piece here.  

Each year I compose a piece for the high school student participants to premiere at our annual University of Mobile Honor Band. This past year was so exceptional and challenging in many ways due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we were still able, miraculously, to hold the event. Our team went over and beyond in both hard work and creative adaptability to make this happen in a safe, effective manner. Also, the students who attended (in record numbers, actually) were terrifically cooperative, positive and hard working. It turned out to be a great Honor Band.

Because of the unique circumstances, I felt the piece I introduced should be upbeat, hopeful, full of joy and "to the point". The result was "A New Horizon" - where even the title is looking ahead to a better future. It starts with sparking woodwinds and light percussion and quickly builds to an energetic full band. A brief, melodic middle section - still at the same tempo - introduces some new thematic material that is then combined with the opening ideas, leading to a spirited conclusion. The piece has some rhythmic challenges and exists in alternating 3/4 and 4/4 meters for a good portion of the work. However, I was impressed with how quickly the students were able to "lock in" on those things and give such an enthusiastic and effective performance. I hope you will give it a listen!  (Grade 3+)

By the way: Our next University of Mobile Honor Band for high school students will be February 10 - 12, 2022. Registration for that event will be available starting in August of this year at umobile.edu/honorband. We would love to have your students apply.

I've been behind on posting news, so let's do some catch up - one month at a time.    

Let's continue into May...

I had the chance to attend the 2021 Metro Instrumental Directors Conference in Tyler, Texas. This is a group I've been connected to for more than 30 years, though I've not been able to attend the annual conference as regularly in recent years. This year I was not only able to attend, but was one of the arranger/conductors of the opening concert (conducting my composition, "Centennial Fanfare Prelude"). I was also included in a round table discussion with other composers/arrangers (which is most of this group, by the way) on the current state of church music publishing. I expect we will see some very interesting things come out of that discussion.

I've been behind on posting news, so let's do some catch up - one month at a time.     

The lovely month of April...

I was sent a link to this video of the Orchestra at Houston's First Baptist Church playing my arrangement of "Revelation Song". The director of the group is Tim Cates - who is also a very fine arranger and musician as well. They do a really nice job with this piece and I hope you will enjoy it!