Saiai No Sensei was commissioned by the Director of Bands Emily M. Oyan, of Lloyd C. Bird High School Skyhawk Band, Richmond, Virginia to honor the near five decades career of Dr. Terry Austin. It premiered in May 2020 in Richmond, Virginia with Dr. Gary P. Gilroy conducting and Dr. Terry Austin in attendance. In June 2022, Dr. Austin conducted the piece for his final performance with the Virginia Commonwealth University alumni band.In the collaboration of the composition, Dr. Gilroy and Director Oyan wanted to embrace Dr. Austin’s love of Japan and Japanese culture. Dr. Austin has guest conducted and lectured for three rotations at the Musashino Academia Musicae, a Japanese Music Conservatory in Tokyo which invites Americans to guest conduct with their top Wind Ensemble. In discussing concepts, Dr. Gilroy paid homage to Taiko drumming and created elements in the piece to represent the beautiful music of Japan and the Japanese people whom Dr. Austin has become extremely passionate about teaching.
This piece was the second commission for Director Oyan and the Lloyd C. Bird High School Skyhawk Band. An earlier work, Always With Grace was commissioned in 2008 and published in 2009. The medium low and very low concert toms (or floor toms) produce a low and effective sound much like the Japanese Taiko drums. The bass drum should be played with a pair of chamois covered beaters or a small hard felt mallet. A pair of Vic Firth Tom Gauger Ultra Staccato Signature Concert Bass Drum Mallet would be most suitable. And the wise arrangement of high-quality percussion instruments is imperative for the successful performance of this work. Small items such as wood blocks, jam blocks, cowbell, brake drum, etc., should be mounted and easily reached by the players while keeping their eyes on their music and the conductor. The hi-hat height should be adjusted from the normal seated position to the standing concert percussionist. Proper arrangement of each percussionist’s equipment is essential. Percussion should be encouraged to play out when they are the only section playing and back off and blend in a more accompaniment-centered role when other sections of the band are playing. And finally, conductors should be sure that the 8th note remains constant throughout the entire work.
