BUFFALO SOLDIERS Commissioned by The West Point Academy for their 2002 Bicentennial celebration at Carnegie Hall.
1) Prologue
Buffalo Soldiers opens with chimes that reinforce the hopefulness of a new beginning for one black soldier as he prepares to leave his family to fight for his country.
2) Overture
The overture suggests the interactions between this new black soldier and his loved ones as he prepares to leave for the Army. Event 1 - The family gathers to express their love and support as the new recruit prepares to leave. Event 2 - The young soldier responds with his love, and tells of his dream to bring them a better life. Event 3 - Quietly away from the others, his wife reaffirms her commitment to him with a kiss. Event 4 - With a firm authoritative voice, his father challenges him to do the best that he can, and make the family proud. Event 5 - His children helps with his belongings, and the family gathers together as he rides off to his destiny
3) Bugle Calls
The music continues with a series of bugle calls that were used by the cavalry to give troops nonverbal commands. These musical phrases, usually sounded by trumpets or drums, directed their daily activity. This portion of the score is based on selected bugle calls used by General Philip St. George Cooke in his “Cavalry Tactic Regulations”, published in 1872. In some sections the bugle calls are reharmonized as a melody, and in other sections they are played as written, and the event surrounding the bugle call is interpreted through the music. In all cases the melody of the bugle call is unaltered. The bugle calls are presented in the order that they were used during the garrison days of the 9th and 10th Cavalry.
Reveille (0530hrs) - Soldiers scurry about to prepare for the morning troop formation. Assembly (0535hrs) - After Assembly, soldiers converse about the coming day and what was to be expected. Breakfast (0640hrs) - The cooks do their best with the food, but complaints are the order of the day Drill Call (1530hrs) - As the day comes to a close, the soldiers reflect on their families and contemplate their futures. They then quickly organize themselves and prepare for the end of the day troop assembly.
4) Narration and Retreat
At ten minutes before sunset, Retreat* is sounded as the American Flag is lowered, and the cannon is fired.
Troops throughout the garrison interrupt their duties to stand at attention in honor of Old Glory.
Buffalo Soldiers concludes with this bugle call, which is as much a signal of the surrendering of the days’ struggle, as it is the commitment to achieve a better day with the next dawn.
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