Andrew Pease (b. 1979) got his start as a composer writing rock songs in high school, and he has written and arranged for wind bands and chamber groups ever since. In his day job, he serves as Associate Professor of Music and Director of Instrumental Music at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, where he leads the Wind Ensemble and Brass Ensemble. He is also co-conductor of the Catskill Valley Wind Ensemble, a community band also based in Oneonta. His guest conducting work has taken him to several states and the UK, and he has presented nationally and internationally on topics in the wind band field. He studied music and music education at Dartmouth College, Columbia University Teachers College, and Hofstra University. He completed doctoral studies in wind conducting at Arizona State University, studying with Gary Hill. His work there earned him the 2017 American Prize in Collegiate Wind Band Conducting. He started his career in New York City, where he was music director of the Columbia University Wind Ensemble and the community band Columbia Summer Winds (now Manhattan Summer Winds). Throughout his varied career, he has directed players of all ages and ability levels, from elementary beginning band to adult amateurs to professional ensembles. His latest compositions appear at his personal website, www.andypease.com. He also runs two websites dedicated to wind bands. Wind Band Literature (windliterature.org) is a repertoire resource for bands around the world. The Wind Band Symphony Archive (windsymphonies.org) is a dynamic archive of symphonies for wind band.

Yup, it’s me. I’m taking my Three Reflections suite and creating a separate page for each movement, since they really do stand alone. Metal Monster is the finale. My program notes say more:

“Metal Monster” is the final movement of Three Reflections, a suite of three movements, each written around the same musical theme. While there is no specific program or story behind this music, each movement is its own self-contained character piece, each capturing a moment from this chapter of my life.

“Metal Monster” amounts to an actual heavy metal song written for band. I tried to avoid sounding like anyone in particular, but I will admit to cribbing some rhythms and guitar-ish sounds from many familiar acts, and certainly emulating the vocal style of Chris Cornell from Soundgarden. While I never came up with actual lyrics for most of it, I think you will be able to identify the “vocal” parts as they strive to go ever higher in true metal style. You may even find yourself singing “BEHOLD, MY METAL MONSTER!” during the chorus. Finally, despite heavy metal’s reputation as an angry genre, I take GREAT joy in it, and I hope you will find the same in this movement, for all its brutality.

Follow along in the score as you listen to the premiere performance, with me conducting the Catskill Valley Wind Ensemble:

The inspiration for Metal Monster came from several sources. Chris Cornell and Soundgarden got a name-check in the program notes. I really was imagining his voice when constructing the melodies, even googling his vocal range to make sure I got the intensity right. Their song “Spoonman” is just one great example Cornell’s work:

The intro to the piece owes its rhythm and articulation to Metallica‘s “Master of Puppets”:

The “guitar” licks pervade the upper woodwind parts were inspired by both Metallica (look at about the 4 minute mark in “Master of Puppets” with the harmonized lead) and Brian May of Queen, who often sounds like multiple guitarists at once (often thanks to overdubs):

Finally, stepping away from metal a bit, I realized after the fact that the primary transitional material owes a lot to the guitar part from “Every Breath You Take” by the Police:

I’m sure there are more connections to existing music. Hit me up if you find anything – I’m happy to acknowledge any influences!