Grit. Grace. Glory. for orchestra

INSTRUMENTATION

piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, tuba, 3 percussion (1: xylophone, crotales, tam-tam, glockenspiel; 2: snare drum, tam-tam, tubular bells, suspended cymbal; 3: 4 tom-toms, bass drum), harp, strings

PROGRAM NOTE

Grit. Grace. Glory. is a musical story inspired by the people and history of Cleveland, created during my residency as the Daniel R. Lewis Composer Fellow with The Cleveland Orchestra. While the stories and individuals that shaped this music are uniquely Cleveland, the values and sentiments I’ve absorbed—grit, grace, and glory—are qualities that resonate universally. These traits can inspire and teach us all, no matter where we come from.

1. Steel

In summary, Steel serves as a powerful metaphor that links Cleveland’s vital roles in the Underground Railroad, transportation, and steel industries. It symbolizes strength, resilience, and the unyielding spirit of both those who sought freedom and those who helped them. Steel also embodies movement—representing the physical journey toward freedom and the industrial progress that reshaped the nation. In all its forms, steel reflects the dual nature of barriers and breakthroughs, as well as the strength of community and cooperation in the pursuit of a larger, shared goal.

2. Shoreline Shadows

The thematic material for this movement draws directly from students at The Cleveland School of the Arts. In the spring of 2023, I had the privilege of working with four groups of middle and high school students who created their own compositions. I gave them a single prompt: to be inspired by Cleveland, or by their experience of it. Together, we explored collaborative techniques and identified musical ways to tell their stories. Their pieces were titled The Lake, Gentrification Battle, Gun Violence, and New to Cleveland. Shoreline Shadows attempts to bring these four perspectives together, referencing both the literal and figurative “shadows” cast by the lake. It speaks to the hidden undercurrents of violence and gentrification, while also evoking the spirit of a community’s moments of kindness and resilience. This movement serves to tell the story of a place through the eyes of its youth.

3. Quip

Cleveland is a city rich in excellence, yet its residents often approach that excellence with humility. I have encountered many Clevelanders who blend modesty with wit, quickness, and cleverness. Quip is inspired by this playful, “humble brag” spirit—celebrating both fun and excellence without the need for boasting. It serves as a musical nod to the clever heart of the city, featuring thematic material that is humble yet puts the virtuosity of the orchestra on display.

4. Ode

Another core value I’ve found among Clevelanders is the importance of remembering where they come from—loyalty and groundedness. Ode begins by revisiting a familiar theme, symbolizing a return to one’s roots and the acknowledgment of the past. Last but certainly not least, Cleveland is the birthplace of rock and roll. The piece concludes with the full orchestra “rocking out” to anthemic material inspired by the roots of rock and roll, a fitting tribute to the city’s musical legacy and its unwavering spirit.

Special thanks to the following partners and institutions for their profound influence: The Cozad Bates House, The Cleveland School of the Arts, The Fatima Family Center, HK Bandura School, Karamu House, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, The Cleveland Orchestra Youth Orchestra, Global Cleveland, The Ukrainian Museum-Archives, Cleveland History Center, and The Cleveland Orchestra.

— Allison Loggins-Hull