We Shall Lift Lamps of Courage: Score
By Gary Fagan
Grade: 3 (Medium)
Item: 00-PR-0000532
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Description
The title for this piece is taken from a quote made in 1942 by a member of the French Resistance movement that holds true as well today as it did over half a century ago: "A terrible darkness has fallen upon us, but we must not surrender to it. We shall lift lamps of courage and find our way through to the morning." Suitable as an opening number to your next concert, or as a festival selection.
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Additional Details
Series:
Alfred Concert Band
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
2
SKU:
00-PR-0000532
More about this title
About the Composer: Gary Fagan
Gary Fagan brings four decades of band direction experience to his composing and arranging work. A Virginia educator who taught for 36 years in Albemarle County, Fagan holds degrees from Bridgewater College and James Madison University, where he now serves as a University Supervisor and adjunct instructor in arranging. His compositions have reached audiences at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the White House, and major state ceremonies, and he has been recognized twice in "Who's Who Among America's Teachers."
Fagan remains deeply embedded in the band community as a clinician, adjudicator, and percussionist with the Charlottesville Band, where he also serves as Assistant Director. He holds memberships in ASCAP, the National Band Association, Phi Beta Mu Bandmasters Fraternity, and is active in both the Music Educators National Conference and the Virginia Band and Orchestra Directors Association. His understanding of what works in the rehearsal room informs every piece he writes.
Why we love this
This opening number carries genuine emotional weight without requiring advanced technical demands from your ensemble. Fagan anchors the piece in a historical moment of resistance and resilience, giving your band a meaningful text to interpret musically rather than simply performing a concert work. The Grade 3 accessibility means you can program it with confidence regardless of your ensemble's skill level.
What to expect
A slow-building affirmation that begins in shadows but gradually illuminates itself. The musical language is direct and tuneful, allowing the weight of the text and context to settle over the ensemble and audience without relying on complexity or technical showmanship.
Who it's for
Band directors seeking a concert opener that speaks to something larger than music itself. This work suits ensembles at the Grade 3 level and works equally well as a festival selection or as the centerpiece of a thematic concert exploring resilience and hope.
How to get the most out of it
- Establish the lyrical quality early in rehearsal. This piece asks for expressive playing across all sections, so shape phrases as you would in a vocal line rather than treating it as mere accompaniment.
- Balance the inner voices carefully during full-band moments so that the harmonic progression remains clear and the emotional arc stays visible to the audience.
- Let the dynamic contrasts breathe. Resist rushing toward climaxes; the power of this piece lives in its restraint and gradual build.
How to use it
Open your next concert with this piece to set a reflective, purposeful tone before moving into lighter fare. Its modest length and Grade 3 level make it a smart festival choice, and it pairs naturally with other works exploring themes of hope or social awareness.
Skills your students will build
- Sustaining long tonal lines with consistency and care
- Balancing ensemble sound across full instrumentation
- Interpreting dynamic and expressive markings that serve emotional content rather than technical virtuosity
- Understanding how thematic material develops and returns across a complete form