Beyond the Gates by Julie Giroux

Beyond the Gates, while programmatic, does not tell an exact or specific story. The music portrays what I, as the composer, imagined could be on the other side of that gated wall. Walls are meant to keep things in, or out. In this case, they are meant to keep things out that are very dangerous, deadly, or perhaps even evil. I am not going to describe exactly what I was imagining because they are my own demons and by leaving that detail out of the program notes, I hope to encourage the audience and listeners to imagine their own demons. So go ahead, conjure up your worst because I promise you, I depicted it with music.

Paula wanted some hope. She wanted there to be hope on the other side of that wall, at the end. I deleted my ending which was dark, short and captured an untimely death. Now, thanks to Paula, there is hope on the other side of that wall; there is an ending to this work which leaves us alive and safe from peril. She was right. The piece is better with this ending. It also goes to the point I am always trying to make which is, just because I am the composer, it doesn't mean I am always right about my own music. *
Commissioned by the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 6 Band Directors,
Dedicated to our students who have stood strong through challenging times and keep music part of their lives.

Premiered during the PMEA 6 Band Festival at Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School in

Hollidaysburg, PA, January 2022, Paula Crider, Conductor.
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