LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – The Texas Tech School of Music Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s first concert of the year fell on Sept. 11.
Sarah McKoin, director of bands at the Texas Tech School of Music, said she remembers how television coverage of 9/11 relied on music during breaks because words did not fit the moment.
“I still remember from 9/11 that when they would come back from a commercial, they always had music on because words didn’t fit,” McKoin said. “And so some of the things that are the deepest human emotions come from music.”
McKoin wants the audience to never forget. She said music is what stays in the heart.
Honoring victims and survivors
“This is about honoring the lives of people that lost their lives during a terrible time in our history,” McKoin said. “But the resilience of the victim or the survivors, the resilience of the people that supported it after who we are as people after that, the way that we came together, that was all deeply meaningful, and I wanted them to know that.”
McKoin said each section of the piece has its own energy and momentum. The first section draws on Americana themes and is meant to give listeners a sense of connection and resilience.
Middle section titled “Suspended Time”
The middle section is called “Suspended Time.” McKoin said that section is meant to let listeners hear and feel.
“I think it just lets you feel. That’s what it was for me,” McKoin said. “It lets you feel things that in a way that are different from any other way that I felt things. And so if it hooks somebody on music, great. If it gets them to think about 9/11 and be a little more compassionate, a little more empathetic, great. If it makes them think about who we were, if they didn’t know before, great.”
McKoin said the piece is meaningful and moving.
“This is very meaningful. It’s very moving,” McKoin said. “We had our first rehearsal with everything last week and there were a lot of tears.”
Free concert tonight
The concert is free and starts tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Texas Tech’s Hemmle Recital Hall.
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