Canadian composer and conductor Jonathan Dagenais (b. 1983) has spent his career in Canada, especially Quebec. He has appeared frequently as a guest conductor, and he teaches in the CEGEP system in Quebec. In 2005, he founded a wind band in Montreal, the Orchestre a Vents Non Identifié (OVNI – translation: Unidentified Wind Orchestra), which he continues to direct. He also directs the Orchestre de jeux vidéo (Video Game Orchestra) in Montreal (they feature his most complete English language bio). He has a master’s degree in conducting from McGill University, and he completed undergraduate study in composition at the Université de Montréal.
Symbiopholie! comes with the subtitle “a proud and crazy march.” It lives up to this name. Dagenais completed the work in 2009 and revised it 2016. Jeff Girard from Midwest Sheet Music provides a descriptive program note:
Symbiopholie was commissioned by the St-Jerome Concert Band for their 160th anniversary; the oldest band in Canada. Jonathan Dagenais attempted to find musical ideas that would emphasize every aspect of the band and the pride of their long existence. The term Symbiopholie describes two feelings: symbiosis and craziness. For the band to go through the different eras of its long existence, a symbiosis of the musical passion by the members of the band was necessary. Also of great importance was showing the spirit of teamwork and the pride of belonging to this group.
The work has two distinct sections that oppose and compete with themselves at the same time. The first part is a slow march to emphasize the symbiosis of the ensemble; and the second part, double time, constitutes the unbridled craziness, lively and almost uncontrollable. The entire piece mixes together in a style reminiscent of a march, the origin of military fanfares.
Read more about the piece at Dagenais’s website (in French), Wind Music Sales, the Wind Repertory Project, Alfred Music, and its publisher, Eighth Note Publications, complete with a preview score and recording.
Here is the National Youth Band of Canada performing Symbiopholie! under the direction of the composer: