THE END OF THE WORLD
2011/2012 : BAND CONSORTIUM COMMISSION : The End of the World, a major work for large symphonic band / symphonic wind ensemble, 'inspired' by the 2011 Japan earthquakes and
tsunami, the Mayan calendar and the Nostradamus doomsday prophecy for the end of the world in December 2012.
35 CBDNA (College Band Directors National Association) university bands participated in the consortium:
35 CBDNA (College Band Directors National Association) university bands participated in the consortium:
LA FIN DU MONDE CONSORTIUM COMMISSION GROUP:
Michigan, Eastman, Texas-Austin, Indiana, Nebraska, Illinois, Florida,
Purdue, Arizona State, Michigan State, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Ithaca,
Southern Illinois, UNC Greensboro, Minnesota, New Mexico, Louisiana, Butler,
Trinity (TX), Capital, IPFW, Missouri, the Hartt School, USF, Lawrence Conservatory,
Virginia Commonwealth, Illinois Wesleyan, Indiana Wind Symphony, etc.
The Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Performing Arts Center Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Purdue, Arizona State, Michigan State, Kansas State, Wisconsin, Ithaca,
Southern Illinois, UNC Greensboro, Minnesota, New Mexico, Louisiana, Butler,
Trinity (TX), Capital, IPFW, Missouri, the Hartt School, USF, Lawrence Conservatory,
Virginia Commonwealth, Illinois Wesleyan, Indiana Wind Symphony, etc.
The Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) Performing Arts Center Symphonic Wind Ensemble
THE END OF THE WORLD
Winner of the 2012 National Band Association William D. Revelli Composition Prize
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PERFORMANCE AUDIO:
THE END OF THE WORLD Kansas State University
THE END OF THE WORLD Arizona State University
THE END OF THE WORLD Kansas State University
THE END OF THE WORLD Arizona State University
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PERFORMANCE VIDEO:
THE END OF THE WORLD University of South Florida (Tampa) - w/ video + composer intro
THE END OF THE WORLD IPFW
THE END OF THE WORLD Indiana University (E.O.W. is 49:30 - 1:03:10)
THE END OF THE WORLD Millikin University
THE END OF THE WORLD Indiana University (E.O.W. is 49:30 - 1:03:10)
THE END OF THE WORLD Millikin University
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Rehearsal : September 11, 2011
Butler University Symphonic Wind Ensemble
Youtube : rehearsal video
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PROGRAM NOTE: (for printed concert programs)
THE END OF THE WORLD (2011) Michael Schelle (b. 1950)
1. THE EXHAUSTED SUN
2. BULLET TRAIN TO HELL
3. AFTER AFTERLIFE
Written during the blistering, record-breaking heat wave of summer 2011, THE END OF THE WORLD was inspired, in some part, by the notorious cataclysmic end-of-the-world prophecy of Nostradamus (scheduled for late December 2012) and the Mayan calendar’s end-of-time prediction (also, according to some, on the immediate horizon). The primary source of inspiration, however, was the great earthquake and tsunami that leveled much of northern Japan in March 2011. My original plan was for a “serious” Nostradamus-related piece, but fate interceded: As I began work on the music in Spring 2011, I was heartbroken by the fear, disbelief and sadness on the face of my Japanese wife, composer/pianist Miho Sasaki, as she sat paralyzed by her emotions, watching televised images of her homeland’s devastation. So my piece took its shape and inspiration from this disaster.
At the end of the day (or the end of the world), doomsday predictions are ephemeral, but Japan’s 3/11/11 cataclysm will have a profound international impact on generations to come. Besides, as I spoke with one of the consortium directors about my Nostradamus vs. Japan dilemma, it dawned on me that both subjects might very likely produce a similar score – so I chose to just embrace it all and seek the optimistic “substance after shadows” (Shinto prayer) for resolution.
As old Nostradamus's predictions have come and gone without incident, and the Japanese people have (once again) picked themselves up from the ashes and resiliently moved on, now my piece may take on more universal considerations: perhaps reflecting on each listener’s personal experience(s) with the loss of important persons, places, or things.
THE END OF THE WORLD was a commission from a consortium group of 35 university and professional symphonic bands / wind ensembles from across the US and abroad. In December 2012, selected from over 80 international entries, THE END OF THE WORLD was awarded the 2012 National Band Association "William D. Revelli Composition Prize".
THE END OF THE WORLD (2011) Michael Schelle (b. 1950)
1. THE EXHAUSTED SUN
2. BULLET TRAIN TO HELL
3. AFTER AFTERLIFE
Written during the blistering, record-breaking heat wave of summer 2011, THE END OF THE WORLD was inspired, in some part, by the notorious cataclysmic end-of-the-world prophecy of Nostradamus (scheduled for late December 2012) and the Mayan calendar’s end-of-time prediction (also, according to some, on the immediate horizon). The primary source of inspiration, however, was the great earthquake and tsunami that leveled much of northern Japan in March 2011. My original plan was for a “serious” Nostradamus-related piece, but fate interceded: As I began work on the music in Spring 2011, I was heartbroken by the fear, disbelief and sadness on the face of my Japanese wife, composer/pianist Miho Sasaki, as she sat paralyzed by her emotions, watching televised images of her homeland’s devastation. So my piece took its shape and inspiration from this disaster.
At the end of the day (or the end of the world), doomsday predictions are ephemeral, but Japan’s 3/11/11 cataclysm will have a profound international impact on generations to come. Besides, as I spoke with one of the consortium directors about my Nostradamus vs. Japan dilemma, it dawned on me that both subjects might very likely produce a similar score – so I chose to just embrace it all and seek the optimistic “substance after shadows” (Shinto prayer) for resolution.
As old Nostradamus's predictions have come and gone without incident, and the Japanese people have (once again) picked themselves up from the ashes and resiliently moved on, now my piece may take on more universal considerations: perhaps reflecting on each listener’s personal experience(s) with the loss of important persons, places, or things.
THE END OF THE WORLD was a commission from a consortium group of 35 university and professional symphonic bands / wind ensembles from across the US and abroad. In December 2012, selected from over 80 international entries, THE END OF THE WORLD was awarded the 2012 National Band Association "William D. Revelli Composition Prize".
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THE END OF THE WORLD
PHOTO GALLERY
University of South Florida (Tampa), April 2014 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
Arizona State University, September 2012 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
Illinois Wesleyan University, February 2012 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
Univ. of Hartford / the Hartt School, Dec. 2016 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
University of Connecticut - UCONN, Nov. 2019 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
University of Louisiana-Lafayette, March 2012 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
University of Nebraska, December 2012 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
University of New Mexico, April 2014 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
Indiana University, November 2013 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
Indiana University-Ft. Wayne, October 2013 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
Southern Illinois University, December 2012 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
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Kansas State University, December 2013 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
Millikin University (IL), February 2014 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
University of Michigan, March 2014 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
University of Michigan, March 2014 : the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
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THE END OF THE WORLD : PHOTO GALLERY, cont.
Michael Schelle takes tha stage at the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
IPFW Wind Ensemble, October 2013
Michael Schelle takes the stage at the end of THE END OF THE WORLD
KANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY WIND ENSEMBLE, December 2013
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UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA (Tampa)
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MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY
THE MIGHTY G300 SMOKE MACHINE : DECATUR, IL
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THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
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UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
"We need more smoke !!"
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The Hartt School / University of Hartford : Glen Adsit, conductor
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