The Deer and the Owl - for wind ensemble

by Francisco Martinez, arranged by Harrison J. Collins

Year: 2018

Grade: 5

Duration: ca. 9:45

Purchase: $145 (PDF Score/Parts) | $45 (Printed 11x17 Score)

Recording: Illinois State University Wind Symphony | Tony Marinello, Conductor

Francisco Martinez is not only a fellow musician to me—he is a childhood friend. As we both grew in age and developed a love and passion for music, we grew closer in friendship. I cannot overstate my admiration for Francisco, and being able to toss musical thoughts back and forth with him has been a daily privilege to me for years. For that reason, there was no question that I would gladly take the opportunity to arrange The Deer and the Owl, which was first a work for violin and piano, and later for orchestra. Sharing this work with the wind ensemble repertoire is a pleasure for me and a way of saying thank you to Francisco—or, as I’ve always known him, Frankie—for the years of camaraderie we’ve had and hopefully for many more to come.

The composer writes about the piece:

This music comes from very painful circumstances. Thomas Nokes, for whom this piece is written, was a student at the University of North Texas, and a fellow trombone player. He graduated with his Masters Degree in trombone performance in May 2016, and planned to return to UNT the next semester to study for his Doctorate. A few days later, I and the rest of the UNT trombone studio learned that he had taken his own life. I cannot speak for other members of the studio on the impact of this news. I can say for myself, as a friend of his, that this disturbed me deeply. In the wake of learning what Thomas had done, with no warning, I struggled to comprehend it and yearned to understand why this had happened. We were left with many questions for which answers never came, and I personally began questioning my own value as a person- something I still struggle with today.

A month later, the first inklings of this work came to life through my own improvisation on the piano. The very first things heard in the work- the piano/mallet introduction, the clarinet melody- were those very improvisations. From June 2016 through September 2017, I wrote the work in small parts, little by little.

The Deer and the Owl is titled for the music’s reflection on life and death. The deer is often a symbol of life and longevity. This imagery in the music is balanced by the unfortunate reality that we do not always experience life and longevity alone, and this thought is what lead me to the Owl, which often symbolizes the coming of death and is considered to act as a guide for the souls of the dead.

I framed the work itself as a musical narrative. It’s a conversation between two close friends that begins with one who has struggled shielding themselves from their friend. This person gradually opens up and lowers their shield to the other about their struggles, and the dark thoughts they often find themselves struggling to keep at bay. As the conversation continues, the tone changes. Eventually, this person reaches a catharsis through their ability to let things out, and their struggles seem to lift from their shoulders for the first time in what seems like forever. This outpouring is not maintained, however. We are left with this friend shutting down and bringing up their shield once again. Whatever may follow is to be interpreted by the listener.

For anyone that has experienced loss in any kind of way, not just to suicide, I hope this piece may provide the comfort for you that is has for me.

For anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts, please seek help. You are not alone.