MLHS band premieres composition about Moses Lake

MOSES LAKE — It’s not often a new piece of music get its world debut right here in Moses Lake.

But Thursday night, at the Moses Lake High School bands’ Winter Concert, “Frontier Rising” — one man’s musical vision of the history of this city — was played for the very first time in public by the MLHS Wind Ensemble.

The composer is Darryl Johnson II, a man who travels the world writing music for middle school and high school bands. He came to Moses Lake last year, directed the bands in several original compositions, and was then commissioned to write a piece for the MLHS band about Moses Lake.

Once upon a time, according to MLHS Music Director Dan Beich, royalty, the church and other wealthy individuals supported artists — painters, sculptors, architects, composers — in their aspirations. However, today, there are fewer “formalized structures” to pay people to make art.

So, a big high school like Moses Lake can help.

“If not us, then who?” Beich asked. “The musical experience isn’t between us and some dead guy, but some live guy, and he’s a wonderful person.”

“Frontier Rising” tells the history of Moses Lake, from the first Native Americans through the arrival of the settlers, the creation of the Columbia Basin Project, the arrival of the Air Force, and then the emergence of high-tech industry — complete with the use of an air compressor and a power drill added into the ensemble’s performance.

“All the themes come together, and there you have modern day Moses Lake, written for these students,” Johnson said.

Both Johnson and Beich said they worked together for a few months to hash out ideas of Moses Lake ought to sound like.

“At first, it was kind of freeing,” Beich said of working with Johnson. “He was open to almost anything I had to throw at him in terms of ideas about what we might do to honor the city.”

It wasn’t set in stone that the commission would be about the city’s history, Beich said. Early on, they threw around a lot of ideas — the Columbia River, the geology of Central Washington — before decided to honor the “small-town progression” of Moses Lake that is similar to the stories a lot of towns can tell.

“He was great at showing the kids which parts of the music represent what, helping bring to life,” Beich added.

Johnson wasn’t entirely sure where his inspiration comes from, only that sometimes he would sit at the piano and noodle and eventually something would hit him.

“I wish I had a better answer,” he said. “Inspiration is ephemeral, and there is no formula.”

And just like last year, students found working with the actual composer a refreshing change.

“It was interesting,” said sophomore flautist Stephanie Foryan. “He tells you what he wants from the piece, rather than having to interpret it for yourself.”

Johnson said he loves working with the student musicians in Moses Lake, describing them as “fun, engaged, witty and excited.” But he’s also looking forward to taking “Frontier Rising” on the road, where others can listen to his musical take on the history of our town.

“There are a few things to finish up,” he said. “But I’m thinking I should have it ready by February or March.”

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at cfeatherstone@columbiabasinherald.com.