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- Martin, Jeremy S.
Duration: 10 minutes
Description: Fast Falls the Eventide is dedicated to the memory of middle school band director, Thomas Mitchell, who lost his battle with cancer in February, 2008. Because Tom was devoutly religious – and also a proud alumnus of the University of Alabama – the melodic elements of Fast Falls the Eventide are taken from two sources: the first is Yay, Alabama, the fight song of the University of Alabama; the other is the popular hymn Abide with Me, the text of which is a prayer for the comfort and strength of God to be present with us throughout life, through trials, and through death. As a tribute to Tom’ career as a professional trombonist, Fast Falls the Eventide features the trombone in a number of ways: an opening solo, a low-brass chorale, an the work ends with a brief, final statement by muted trombone. Because Tom’s wife Rhonda and daughter Sara are both bassoonists, there are solo passages for the bassoons as well.