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State College, PA

(814) 867-9935

Rick Hirsch is a nationally-known composer, arranger and jazz educator living in State College, PA. Check out his music, book a live jazz band in Central Pennsylvania.

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News

Yuletide update

Rick Hirsch

Three months ago I wrote about new saxophone music in the works.

Since then the music has been edited, revised and engraved; a graphic designer has designed the cover; the text pages have been written and typeset; demo recordings have been made; and a local print-shop is all ready to print the first batch of books.

Yuletide Improvisations is a book of fifteen beloved Christmas and Chanukah songs reimagined.

Here are final-versions of two of the hand-written sketches shown in the original post.

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New music in the works

Rick Hirsch

I do the crossword in pen, but I write music in pencil.

Here are some draft sketches of new music I have in the works: a twelve-song collection of Yuletide Improvisations for unaccompanied saxophone. (Estimated publication: late summer/fall 2021)

I’m sharing these snapshots simply to show that music doesn’t come out (of my brain) fully formed. It’s a process that involves capturing an initial idea, then revisiting it over the following days to slice, dice, nip, and tuck into a nice whole. Of course, there’s also simply tossing things out that are just not making it.

Click the thumbnails below to view.

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Zoom camp in the books

Rick Hirsch

Last week was the 2nd Annual Fraser Street Saxophone Camp. And even though it was on the Zoom, it went great!

My young, enthusiastic teaching faculty did a fantastic job team-teaching the HS and older MS students (I taught the youngest MS students). And our special guests were a hit (more below).

Overview

» 20 students, aged 11-18, divided into 3 groups by age and experience

» 3 guest artists: Ian Hendrickson-Smith (the Roots!), Greg Johnson (SF), Kate Anderson (NY)

» 4 Assistant Teachers — homegrown kids who are now studying saxophone in college:

  • Alex Rothstein (studies with Steve Jordheim @ Lawrence U)

  • Shane McCandless (with Gary Keller @ U of Miami)

  • Jimmy O’Donnell (with Jim Umble @ Youngstown State)

  • Ian Brannan (with David Stambler @ Penn State)

» We focused exclusively on process over product, making the experience engaging and positive for the students. There was a lot of time for watching/listening and discussing music. We had engaging conversations on different aspects practicing. And our guest artists discussed everything from performing on live television, to effective embouchures, to being willing to fail in order to grow.

» We did our best to expose the students to all kinds of saxophone music, including Jazz, Classical, Ethnic, Pop/Rock, and beyond.

» We had a faculty solo concert and a rousing round of Saxophone Jeopardy!

» And, of course, there was camp swag, including the 2020 pandemic special edition COVID-19 mask


As much fun as this week was, we are all hopeful that in 2021 we will all be vaccinated from COVID-19 and will be able to hold the camp in person. Fingers crossed!

Send me a note if you’d like to be notified when the the 2021 camp begins enrolling.

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Silent Night in Sydney

Rick Hirsch

I woke this morning to receive this text from a longtime friendly acquaintance and former teaching colleague:

Rick, I’m standing in a jazz club in Sydney (Australia) about to hear the Sydney Jazz Orchestra play some of your jazz arrangements. Cheers! /Rob*

(That’s Robert Nairn, the phenomenal professor of Double Bass at the University of Melbourne)

A few minutes later he sent me this phone video:

One final thing for us Northerners to acknowledge is that it’s the middle of the summer right now in Australia!

View / download / purchase Silent Night here

Battle Hymn of Iowa

Rick Hirsch

This video just in:

Here’s the Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band playing my brand-new arrangement of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Inspired by Elvis’ version in his 1972 American Trilogy. There’s a nice talkover narration in the middle followed by wailing brass at the end.

Dig it.


2 New Sax Quartets

Rick Hirsch

Here’s why I’m excited about these new arrangements:

  • They’re long overdue, especially Swing Low.

  • They sound great.

  • They’re quite playable.

  • They’re scored AATB flex. Though I wrote these AATB, there are substitute parts for each of the four saxophones, allowing for maximum flexibility.

  • They’re road-tested with students and pros.

  • Ode to Joy is especially great to use with as many sax players as you can gather.

Please do check them out — I think you’ll like them.

Ode to Joy
Swing Low
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Halftime update

Rick Hirsch

This year I got to write a boatload of halftime music for the great university marching bands at Penn State, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

Here’s the music that has been performed so far:

Penn State University Blue Band

Bye, Bye, Bye (NSYNC) / Sucker (Jonas Brothers)

Firebird Suite (Stravinsky)

MARVEL UNIVERSE: Marvel Studios Fanfare, Avengers Theme, Can You Dig It?, Awesome Mixtape Vol. 1, Black Panther

University of Wisconsin Badger Band

FUNK SHOW REHEARSAL:

You’re Still a Young Man/What Is Hip, Higher Ground, Through the Fire, Let’s Groove, Uptown Funk

PIANO SHOW REHEARSAL:

Piano Man, Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting, Empire State of Mind, Love Song, Bad Romance/Shallow

BROADWAY SHOW:

Opening Up, Lady Marmalade, Waving Through a Window, Alexander Hamilton/the Room Where it Happens

NO VIDEO FOOTAGE AVAILABLE :-(

LADY GAGA (Bad Romance/Shallow) in LAMBEAU at halftime of Packers-Raiders game!

Still to come this season

University of Iowa Hawkeye Marching Band — one selection TBA at Nov. 9 game honoring Veterans Day

Penn State Blue Band — entire halftime show TBA vs. Rutgers on Nov. 30


With any luck at all, I’ll be able to track down some videos after those games.

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