“Another glorious Sierra day in which one seems to be dissolved and absorbed and sent pulsing onward we know not where.” John Muir, My First Summer in the Sierra, 1911
Dr. Gary P. Gilroy is a force of nature. Irrepressible with boundless optimism and energy, his character reminds me of the vibrant and varied California Central Coast and Valley regions where he spent much of his life. A legendary high school and college band conductor, Professor Gilroy has guided generations of students and this composition is a tribute to his spirit and legacy as well as the remarkable place he calls home.
In three short, connected movements, Pulsing Onward draws from specific references within the state as well as contrapuntal techniques from the past and present. “Pacific Coast Canons” represents the famous Pacific Coast Highway near Big Sur and uses techniques drawn from adoptive Californians John Adams and Arnold Schoenberg. A sleek machine rounds the blind corners as the Pacific Ocean glitters in the distance and the road stretches ever onwards. Coming to an abrupt halt, we hear the redwood forest calm of a “Sierra Sarabande.” This lyrical dance form with a repeating minor progression slowly builds to give way to a spectacular mountain view of the High Sierras in the distance.
Finally, we come to the “Golden Gate Toccata,” a technical tour de force as we cross from the tranquil Sonoma Valley to the pulsing heart of San Francisco. Xylophone runs and heavy percussion backbeats accompany power chords from the brass with subtle nods to a few of Gary’s favorite works from the past. The work concludes with that limitless energy and optimism that are so apparent whenever you meet Dr. Gilroy in his native state. This work was commissioned for Dr. Gary P. Gilroy on the occasion of his retirement by a consortium of his friends, colleagues, and former students.