Deep River by composer Benjamin Horne is a highlight of our Summer 2023 program. This will be the Northshore Concert Band’s first performance of this work.

Mr. Horne describes this work:

Deep River is a musical portrait paying homage to the history and heritage of the spiritual. The work opens with imagery of the river with woodwind trills and piano rolls (the piano rolls in particular are quoted from Henry T. Burleigh's art song arrangement of 1917). Over this texture are various testimonial solos featuring several members of the wind ensemble. The first and only proper presentation of the song begins with a tuba solo. The bass voice introduction serves as a tribute to Paul Robeson, a renaissance man whose accomplished singing career frequently featured the spiritual in his performances and recordings throughout the 20th century. The second presentation of the song leans on the more religious aspects of the spiritual opening with a saxophone section soli meant to imitate the stylings of organ playing in a Black American church. The full ensemble then enters as if a choir is joining in to share the moment before fully taking over for the climax. The work then returns to the texture of the introduction. The river flowing with new testimonies of the "promised land.”

Benjamin Horne is a composer and arranger, low brass performer, and music educator residing in Indiana. He earned his Master's degree at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and his Bachelor’s at the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University with degrees in Music Education, Music Performance, and a Certificate in Music Composition. Mr. Horne, whose primary instrument is the euphonium, is a past winner of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Tuba Euphonium Conference Solo Artist Competition.

We contacted Mr. Horne and asked him to share with us his journey in music, musical influences, and advice that he has for young musicians.

Please tell us a bit about your journey in music and in life.

I started playing music formally at nine years old. I began on trumpet, but within two years braces facilitated a permanent switch to euphonium (and later added trombone). I grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, with an older brother who was also heavily involved in band and was an early teacher and influence. Through him, I was introduced to the world of drum and bugle corps in middle school. The sound of big brass sections was fascinating to me. The source material of those shows also served as vehicles to introduce me to composers such as Mahler, Shostakovich, Stravinsky, and more. My first attempt at learning how to write music was during this time. I would come home from school and try to transcribe drum corps shows by ear. Eventually, I would just listen to the source material and arrange the music on my own.

It was not until I got to college, however, that I started composing my own music. I majored in Music Education and Music Performance but also earned a certificate in composition from Columbus State University. There I wrote my first original compositions, all of which were solo or chamber music. After graduating from CSU, I moved back to Atlanta to become a band director. The pandemic soon sparked a desire for change, which resulted in me moving and starting a master's degree at Indiana University. Though my major was euphonium performance, I joined the composition department and took on conducting opportunities and study. While a student at IU, I completed Deep River, which is my first completed work for concert band. Fast forward to the present almost two years later, I graduated from IU. Also, I have put an emphasis on continuing to evolve as a composer and as a conductor. I will be starting my DMA at Michigan State this Fall in conducting, and will also finally pursue a composition degree as well.

What have been some of your musical influences?

Some of my musical influences that come alive in Deep River, in particular, are gospel music having grown up in a Southern Black Methodist church. Further influences were composers who used folk music in their works. In the band repertoire, Gustav Holst and Ralph Vaughan Williams come to mind immediately. Percy Grainger and his approach with Lincolnshire Posy was firmly in mind when creating Deep River. Somewhat related, Romantic era art song and its "word painting" characteristics also have made an impact on my writing style both in this work in vocal music of my own.

What is on your Spotify playlist or in your music library?

There's some variety, but my tendencies as far as genre include R&B, soul, hip-hop, pop, and funk. Michael Jackson, you would hear pretty frequently. Some modern artists/groups would be Lawrence, The Main Squeeze, Kendrick Lamar, H.E.R., and J. Cole. My recent kick has been late 90s "soulquarian" and adjacent artists such as D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, etc.

Which composer/musician – past or present – would you most like to meet for a coffee and why?

Quincy Jones. He has worked with so many phenomenal musicians in his lifetime and has a library that spans a variety of genres. I'm sure he has a wealth of stories and knowledge.

What do you do to relax?

Video games

Do you have any advice for young musicians?

Have goals in mind of what you want to do, but keep an open mind on the pathway to achieve them. Go and experience new things outside the practice room. Take a risk on a different opportunity or skill set. You never know what you might gain from it.

Please share any thoughts that you may have about the Northshore Concert Band.

Super excited to hear the Northshore Concert Band's rendition of Deep River! It is always an honor when an incredible ensemble chooses to program my music. I wish Northshore a fantastic performance!

A special thank you to Benjamin Horne for speaking with us and giving permission to reproduce this material. Please visit his website Horne Music to learn more about Mr. Horne and his work.

American Celebration
Sunday, June 4, 2023, 3:00 pm
Leemputte Family Theater, McGrath Family Performing Arts Center, Loyola Academy, 3424 Illinois Road, Wilmette, IL

Learn more about the Northshore Concert Band at www.northshoreband.org

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Composer Benjamin Horne