Eulogy for the Fallen: E-flat Alto Saxophone
By Gary Fagan
Grade: 3
Item: 00-PC-0019317_AX1
$3.00
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Description
This heartfelt, lyrical work by Gary Fagan is dedicated to all first responders who paid the ultimate price to keep others safe. Eulogy for the Fallen uses rich sonorities and haunting harmonic progressions to underscore a simple yet beautiful melody that strives to help honor the heroes ever-present in the world. (4:30)
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Additional Details
Series:
MakeMusic Symphonic Band
Publisher:
MakeMusic Publications
SKU:
00-PC-0019317_AX1
More about this title
About the Composer: Gary Fagan
Gary Fagan's compositions have earned performances at prestigious venues including the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the White House, and the gubernatorial inauguration of former Virginia Governor Douglas Wilder. He holds degrees in Music Education from Bridgewater College and a master's degree from James Madison University, where he now serves as a University Supervisor and has taught arranging as adjunct faculty.
Fagan's 36-year tenure as a band director in Albemarle County culminated in numerous recognitions: Central Virginia Outstanding Middle School Teacher (Phi Delta Kappa), Outstanding Educator Award from the Virginia Governor's School for the Visual and Performing Arts, and Outstanding Educator Award from the Piedmont Council of the Arts. He remains active as a band clinician, adjudicator, and percussionist with the Charlottesville Band, where he serves as Assistant Director. His memberships include ASCAP, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, the National Band Association, and the Music Educators National Conference.
Why we love this
Fagan crafts a genuinely moving tribute that avoids sentimentality through its restrained orchestration and sophisticated harmonic language. At Grade 3, the writing remains accessible to developing ensembles while offering enough textural depth and expressive demand to engage musicians and audiences alike. Directors will appreciate how effectively this work functions both as a meaningful concert moment and as a teaching tool for balancing technical demands with emotional communication.
What to expect
Eulogy for the Fallen unfolds with quiet dignity and contemplative beauty. Haunting harmonies and lyrical writing create an atmosphere of profound respect, allowing the ensemble to express something beyond technique and into genuine artistic purpose.
Who it's for
Concert bands at Grade 3 level seeking repertoire that honors service and sacrifice with musical substance. This work serves directors who value meaningful programming without compromising ensemble development or accessibility.
How to get the most out of it
- Shape the melody with sustained legato phrasing; the harmonic progression underneath carries the weight, so resist the urge to accent or punctuate the main line.
- Balance the rich sonorities carefully in full sections. Let inner voices breathe rather than blending them into an undifferentiated mass.
- Establish a consistent tempo early and maintain it without rushing through emotional peaks; the 4:30 duration allows room for breathing and reflection.
- Give attention to the transition points where harmonic progressions shift; these moments define the work's arc and require deliberate conductor preparation.
How to use it
Program this as a centerpiece for patriotic or commemorative concerts, or as a standalone moment of reflection at the opening of a concert where its emotional weight can stand alone without competition. It pairs well with lighter works in the second half, giving audiences time to absorb its message.
Skills your students will build
- Sustained legato phrasing across longer melodic lines
- Balancing multiple layers of harmonic texture
- Responding to subtle expressive cues from the conductor
- Maintaining consistent intonation through rich, dissonant harmonic progressions