ROBERT THURSTON

My most recent work: a medium-easy concert band setting of an original melody—a bagpipe tune I wrote for a friend who fronts a Celtic band called the American Rogues. The title is taken from the words spoken at a military funeral service, when the folded flag is presen...

I wanted to write a military march in the Hollywood tradition of great marches like Jerry Goldsmith’s “Patton,” or John Williams’ “Midway.” I came up with  the melody while walking from the US Capitol to the nearest Metro station. I didn’t have a pencil and paper with...

A work aimed at college and professional wind bands, or mature high school groups. “Departures” is the last original piece I wrote while I was still a member of the US Air Force Band—so it commemorates my departure from the Band (and the military) after a 20-year caree...

I was asked to arrange "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch" as a bass trombone feature. All I really knew about bass trombone at the time was: ledger lines. Yeah, baby! So there's plenty of written solo heat for the bass 'bonist and much of it is below the staff. There's al...

Festive Dances (2000) is a grade 3-4 band piece, published by Carl Fischer. It’s my first published composition for wind band, a three-movement suite that pays homage to my composition and arranging teacher, Charles Carter, using his initials (CEC) as the motivic basis...