The Big A.F. March
This programmatic piece is about the moving of American Falls, Idaho when a dam was built in 1925. To this day the Oneida grain elevator can be seen standing out in the reservoir. When water levels drop enough the old town site is revealed and old sidewalks and foundations can be seen. Buildings that could be moved were lifted up onto flat cars and pulled by steam tractors. After that the old main street buildings were demolished. This piece depicts the sound of the tractors gearing up to move and the subsequent march to higher ground with the buildings in tow. The sound of the steam tractors permeates the piece in the snare drum and the hiss of steam from the band members. The second section is an excerpt from John Phillip Sousa's and the American Falls High School fight song Stars and Stripes Forever. The move was a big part of this small town's history and this piece is dedicated to the small Idaho town with a big heart.