Program Notes:

And the Nightwatchers Awake refers to the image and legend of gargoyles, the grotesque creatures found high above on cathedrals and other buildings to divert water and supposedly ward off evil spirits. The Letchworth Junior High Band students requested a piece sounding “haunted,” “creepy,” and “mysterious,” and this inspired the character of the work. Evoking gargoyles coming to life, the piece expresses an eerie stillness, strength, ferocity, and even majestic power. This work was commissioned by Jason Decker and the Letchworth Junior High Band with a grant from the Arts Council for Wyoming County.