Love & Nature for
wind band
Gala Flagello
Program Note
Love & Nature (2024) was commissioned by a consortium of wind bands led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and explores how love prevails through cosmic lore, social movements, and mercurial mythos. Each of the work's three movements connect a different instrumental sound world to the concepts of earth, air, and fire, depicting a blossoming of kindness and hope for the future of our planet. The first movement, "Flower Power," is inspired by the titular social movement of the 1960s–1970s and sonically critiques the juxtaposition of fragility and strength, beauty and utility, and nonviolence and force. "Flower Power" reflects the ethos of Marc Riboud's iconic photograph The Ultimate Confrontation: The Flower and the Bayonet and incorporates a musical Easter egg—a countermelody for counterculture. The second movement, "Star-Crossed," summons the hope, whimsy, and longing of its ill-fated protagonists through celestial textures and luminous scoring. The third and final movement, "Slow Burn," explores both versions of the titular literary trope— romantic and anger-fueled—through the arboraceous lens of controlled fire, an originally indigenous practice that mitigates the droughtdriven effects of climate change. "Slow Burn" foregrounds bright and wooden sounds to pay homage to our forests and the necessity of ecological restoration.
Special thanks to Kim Fleming, Christi Blahnik, Rachel Zephir, Ashley Killam, Ancel "Fitz" Neeley, Michael Avitabile, Sagar Anupindi, Allison Chu, and Hannah Hickman for their guidance during the writing of this work. And Pete Williams: to the moon and back. Endless gratitude to the bands whose support has made Love & Nature a reality.
Movements
I. Flower Power (Duration: 3’)
II. Star-Crossed (Duration: 4’)
III. Slow Burn (Duration: 3’)
Instrumentation
Piccolo
Flute 1-2
Oboe 1-2
Clarinet in Bb1-3
Bass Clarinet in Bb Bassoon 1-2
Optional Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Horn in F 1-2
Trumpet in Bb1-3
Metal Straight Mute Trombone 1-3
Euphonium
Tuba
Piano
Timpani
Percussion 1: Bass drum, suspended cymbal, xylophone
Percussion 2: Snare drum, triangle, 4–octave marimba
Percussion 3: Vibraphone, 2 toms (low and high)
Percussion 4: Kick drum, glockenspiel, 2 wood blocks (low and high)
Optional Double Bass
Performance Note
At the opening of the second movement, the Flute 1, Flute 2, and Piccolo parts in m9–27 should ideally be performed as solos (one player per part), but this passage may be performed soli at the discretion of the conductor. If the double bass player does not have a C extension, they should play the small notehead pitches (an octave higher).
Duration: 10’
First printing, 2024
Copyright ©2024 Gala Flagello. All Rights Reserved.
Program Note Copyright © 2024 Gala Flagello. All Rights Reserved Published by Just a Theory Press | www.justatheorypress.com
Further Reading
The following books, photographs, and collections informed the writing of Love & Nature: I. Flower Power
• Photograph: The Ultimate Confrontation: The Flower and the Bayonet by Marc Riboud (1967)
• Photograph: Flower Power by Bernie Boston (1967)
• Art Matters: Because Your Imagination Can Change the World by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Chris Riddell II. Star-Crossed
• Galatea by Madeline Miller
• The Book of Delights: Essays by Ross Gay
• Your True Home: The Everyday Wisdom of Thich Nhat Hanh III. Slow Burn
• Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• The Overstory by Richard Powers
• If the World Becomes So Bright by Keith Taylor
Love & Nature Consortium Members
Consortium Lead: University of Illinois, Kimberly Fleming
Appalachian State University, Jason Gardner and John Stanley Ross
Arkansas State University, Nick Balla
Augustana College (IL), James M. Lambrecht
Baylor University, Isaiah Odajima
Brooklyn Wind Symphony,Jeff W. Ball
Butler University, Trae Blanco
Dartmouth College, Brian Messier
Eastern Michigan University, Mary Schneider and J. Nick Smith
Elon University, Jonathan Poquette and Herb Payung
Florida State University, Rodney Dorsey
Formation Wind Band, Anne Kreider-Hughes and Erin Keeton-Howard
Governor Mifflin High School, Andrew Cusano
Indiana State University, Eric Scott
Ithaca College, Daniel Cook
Keene State College, John T. Hart Jr.
Kennesaw State University, David Kehler
Kentucky Wesleyan College, Patrick Stuckemeyer
Michigan State University, Kevin Sedatole and David Thornton
Montana State University, Nathan Stark
Montclair State University, Thomas McCauley
Morehead State University, DuWayne C. Dale
Northwestern University, Mallory Thompson
Oakland University, Gregory Cunningham and Pam Klena
Oregon State University, Erik Leung
Piedmont Wind Symphony, Mark Norman
Purdue University Fort Wayne, Daniel Tembras
Rowan University, Joseph Higgins
Southeastern Louisiana University, Robert Schwartz
SUNY New Paltz, Adam Fontana
SUNY Potsdam, Brian K. Doyle
Temple University, Patricia Cornett
The United States Air Force Band, Col. Don Schofield
The United States Coast Guard Band
Tom and Denise Hedlund
University of Alabama in Huntsville, Jack Hontz
University of Central Missouri, Corey Seapy
University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Brian Kaufman
University of Michigan, Jason Fettig and Courtney Snyder
University of Mississippi, Tim Oliver, Randy Dale, and Mel Morse
University of Missouri, Brian A. Silvey, Amy M. Knopps, and Christian M. Noon
University of Missouri Kansas City, Steve Davis and Joe Parisi
University of Missouri-St. Louis, David Wacyk
University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Jonathan Caldwell
University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Mark Norman
University of North Carolina Wilmington, Dominic Talanca
University of North Texas, Amy Woody
University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Jerianne Larson
University of Virginia, Elliott Tackitt
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire, John R. Stewart
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Thomas Gamboa
Vienna Community Band, Christian Folk
Virginia Tech, Derek Shapiro
Wake Forest University, Timothy Heath and Natalie Smith
Youth Performing Arts School, Kevin Callihan
Love&Nature
