Living Legacy

Living Legacy, op. 266
Fogelberg Foundation of Peoria, Illinois
Eric Mills, President
2025 – grade 3.5 – 5:15

COMING SOON

The Fogelberg Foundation of Peoria celebrates the music and legacy of American singer and songwriter, Dan Fogelberg (1951-2007). The foundation asked me to write a piece dedicated to Dan's father, Lawrence Fogelberg (1911-1982), who was a band director in Peoria and Pekin, Illinois. He also was conductor of the Pekin Park Concert Band which premiered this piece on July 27, 2025 with the composer conducting. The foundation wanted this piece to represent the way a single band director becomes the catalyst behind the spreading of knowledge and technique from one student to the next until they have an ensemble filled with inspired musicians, then perpetuated from year to year into a legacy that reaches far beyond their singular band room. While this composition was commissioned to honor Lawrence Fogelberg, it really is intended to honor all band directors past, present and future.

Since Lawrence Fogelberg was an oboist, the piece begins with an unaccompanied oboe playing a four-note statement. This melodic fragment evolves throughout the entire piece and is used in a variety of ways, first as the representation of a question which then expands into a complete melody full of passion and sincerity. As this thematic  "fingerprint" it takes on new meaning much as teachers face a multitude of challenges and joyful moments they encounter every day with their students. These four notes are also used as bell-tones as the piece moves into a fast-paced section, and becomes the basis of this up-beat melody. A return to a lyrical section provides opportunities for  expressive performance and to feature some soloists. A final Allegro section completes the piece with the bell-tones providing the basis for a rousing ending to the piece.

The title is drawn from the lyrics to Dan Fogelberg's song, "Leader of the Band" which has always been one of my favorites. Since the piece is dedicated to his father, who was literally the leader of the band, Living Legacy seemed to be the most appropriate title for so many reasons. The final moments of the song include these lyrics:

The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old 

But his blood runs through my instrument and his song is in my soul

My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man

I'm just a living legacy to the leader of the band

I am a living legacy to the leader of the band