Today’s inauguration festivities in Washington, D.C., will feature a new work by a composer who studied at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School.
Acclaimed composer Peter Boyer had hoped to be in Washington today to hear the premiere of his “Fanfare for Tomorrow.”
“But thanks to the pandemic first of all, and security concerns second, there are far fewer people in attendance,” said Boyer. “So, on the bright side I’ll be warm, but I won’t be able to actually experience it.”
Boyer said he will record the inauguration coverage from several news channels in hopes of hearing his music. He expects coverage on CSPAN will include the full performance of the work.
Boyer said the piece grew out of a one-minute fanfare for solo horn he wrote in 2018 as part of a “fanfare contest” hosted by the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. When he was asked by the United States Marine Band just 20 days ago to write something for the inauguration of Joe Biden, Boyer rewrote the work for concert band, extended it to three minutes and named it “Fanfare for Tomorrow.”
“It’s a very optimistic piece with a forward-looking spirit that I hope will be very evident,” said Boyer. “These have been extremely difficult times for all of us in many ways. Music is a great vessel for optimism, and it feels like a great honor to be asked to contribute to that.”
Boyer’s work will be part of the pre-ceremony prelude music performed by the United States Marine Band. It is believed that the Marine Band has played at every inauguration, beginning with the 1801 inauguration of Thomas Jefferson.
The Rhode Island native got his master’s and doctorate degrees at Hartt in the early 1990s.
