Comments about the music of composer Jesse Ayers

Comments from conductors and performers

Dr. Richard Fischer, conductor [bio]
Concordia University Chicago
Clinician and adjudicator throughout North America

Jericho is by far the most imaginative, unusual and successful work I have ever performed in 33 years of conducting here at Concordia University. The students, myself, and the audiences had a very strong "positive" reaction to this magnificent work. We performed it ten times on our tour (Spring 2006) in the states of Illinois, Arkansas, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Texas and at our home concert here in Chicago. This work was passionately received by our students and the audeinces.

March 5, 2006
Last night [in Little Rock], almost the entire audience was in tears after Jericho. They were deeply touched. Our students saw first hand what the piece and God's Word does to people. Last night was overwhelming!!! The host was so choked up she coouldn't talk to the audience. She was speechless and crying in front of the entire audience. She was really moved.

March 12, 2006
We just played our final tour concert here in Austin, Texas. WOW!! It went very well. Jericho was very well received in every city. People could not stop talking about it after the concert. Tonight's audience was very "sophisticated" since we were near the University of Texas. The people were very moved by Jericho. Jesse, what a piece! God has used this piece in a profound way. Thank you! What a pleasure getting to know you. It has been an honor to play it and see what the impact has been on audiences.

Conductors
   Richard Fischer
   Jeffrey Doebler
   David Holsinger
   William Vollinger
   Jonathan Willis
   Neal McMullian
   Mark Nelson
   Jerry Young
   Elliot Schwartz
   Amy Scurria
   Doug Davis
   L. v. Beethoven
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Photo of conductor Jeffrey Scott Doebler

Dr. Jeffrey Scott Doebler, conductor [bio]
Past president, Indiana Music Educators Association

One of the highlights of my career has been the privilege of collaborating with Jesse Ayers on his compositions. Dr. Ayers has supervised the recordings of Jericho, ...and they gathered on Mount Carmel, and Rachel Weeping for Her Children, and with the Valparaiso University Chamber Concert Band and me.

Even without the Biblical elements, Dr. Ayers’ works are wonderful. But with the addition of the spiritual element, each piece has even deeper meaning and feeling. All of the works are extremely well-crafted by a composer who really knows and respects the concert band. His knowledge of and regard for this medium (and his willingness to ask questions and take suggestions) make him an outstanding leader in artistic band music writing.

Of many words that I could use to describe Jesse Ayers as a composer and collaborator, here are four. Sincerity--he sincerely strives for his artistry, musicianship, and message to be grasped by his audience. Depth--each work has been planned and created with deep thought and care. Accuracy--he insists that his scores and parts are accurate, and meticulously searches for even the most minor errors. Faith--his strong faith is the foundation for his vocation.

Dr. David Holsinger [bio]
Composer and conductor

Shock and awe. I think you've got it down. [comment about Rachel Weeping].

William Vollinger, composer

Jericho is to me extraordinary. Full of energy, directness, an accessible kind of artistry and a very definite anointing, it made me cry and shout as I listened to it (and I'm a Lutheran). I don't know about you, but I like seeing the walls come down in my spiritual life. This piece evokes this process remarkably, with a very Christian perspective. And if I might dare to add (and I am NOT trying to be political here) in a milieu that prefers only to evoke anti-war messages, sometimes not very well done, this work dares to actually evoke war. But this war is a spiritual war, a war the Bible tells us we are all in, whether we like it or not.

Jonathan Willis, conductor [bio]
Director of Bands, Mount Union College

When we introduced Ayers’ Veni Emmanuel to our students here at Mount Union College they were treated to a challenge, and they were thrilled to have the opportunity to perform a work of this caliber. The scoring is immaculate, imaginative, and allows the band to explore ensemble playing that is similar to that of the orchestra. The percussion writing is wonderful, with truly effective timpani and mallet scoring, and a wonderful harp part. Add to this the synthesizer bass part, the first-rate woodwind scoring, and the powerful brass, and you have a winner! This is the most beautiful version of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” out there today. A very good high school band could perform Veni, and the challenge for those students would be well worth the effort, but the work is best suited for the collegiate band. Veni Emmanuel is a marvelous work that I highly recommend for any Christmas concert.

Dr. Neal McMullian, conductor [bio]

Rachel Weeping is a poignant work that marries the great shock, the profound sadness, and the sincere patriotism of this great land as experienced by America following the tragic events of 9/11/2001. Ayers seeks comfort from the Bible while expressing the sting of this infamous act. Of particular note is his ingenious use of the song America, interrupted in the same way our lives were interrupted by this terrible moment.

Dr. Mark Nelson, tubist [bio]
New Materials Editor, ITEA Journal

[Review of The Dancing King]
Wow! The first thing I did was listen to the tape provided that included a performance track with a sampled tuba as the solo. This piece nearly blew my socks off with intense rhythmic drive and beautiful melodic writing. Make no mistake, this reviewer is impressed with the writing.

Of all the compositional parameters of this composition, the rhythmic drive is a major focus of attention. Not unlike the “pattern-pulse” music of Adams, Reich and Glass, Jesse Ayers’ piece has established a fascinating portrayal of synthesized sound which is sophisticated in texture and pleasurable to listen to--a sort of fast “neo-gamelan” listening experience with elements of jazz woven in.

Click here to read the full review

Dr. Jerry Young, tubist [bio]
Professor of Music, University of Wisconsin Eau-Claire

It was my pleasure to give the world premiere of The Dancing King by Jesse Ayers at the International Tuba/Euphonium Conference in Sapporo, Japan in 1990 and later to perform it again at the ISCM World Music Days in Warsaw, Poland in 1992. I have since performed it in a variety of venues, and always to the delight of audiences. The work conveys a true sense of joy and freedom that communicates with almost any listener. This is a work that is very playable by advanced undergraduate students and will provide a nice change of pace for any recital, whether it is a senior recital or a program presented by a professional artist.

The Magical, Mystical Rain Forest is a special work for low brass ensemble and electronic accompaniment. This work appeals to all audiences, as well as to all low brass players! It is a great deal of fun to play and is very approachable by an accomplished high school group. This would be a wonderful work to feature the low brass section at a high school spring band concert and would work equally well as something a little different on a university euphonium/tuba ensemble [or trombone choir] concert. I featured this work when I conducted the International High School All-Star Euphonium/Tuba Ensemble at Northwestern University in 1995. It was a favorite piece for the students in the group, who hailed from Japan, the U.S., Scandinavia, and Europe

Elliot Schwartz, noted composer and author [bio]

“[Ayers’ Dancing King is] appealing in its virtuosity, playfulness, and drive.”
Perspectives of New Music (Winter 1993)

Amy Scurria, composer

I clicked on the excerpt for Jericho. When the music started to play through the speakers, I literally felt transformed. This piece is so powerful. It's engaging. Your language is compelling, unusual... It grasps me, but without engaging in any cliches. Within seconds, I found myself wanting to be sitting in the audience amongst the musicians to experience this powerful work. Jericho is a powerful work.

Dr. Doug Davis, composer [bio]
Chair of the Music, California State University Bakersfield

Thanks for getting our new Guest Composer Series off to such a positive start. Literally, it was a “God send” that concluded our first concert, as the band surrounded the audience and we performed your Fire of the Living God. As one band member stated, “In my 40 years of playing band music, that was the first time I ever saw a standing ovation at a band concert.” Wow, thanks for making it happen.

Ludwig von Beethoven, composer, pianist

Ich könnte die ersten zwei Massnahmen von Ayers’Waldstein Ausdrucklich ergreifen und sie in eine gesamte Bewegung entwickeln!

[I could take the first two measures of Ayers’Waldstein Express and develop them into an entire movement!]