DOWNLOAD THIS FOR YOUR VALENTINE. THE 2ND MOVEMENT FROM HOWARD HANSON'S SYMPHONY #2, PERFORMED MY JUNIOR YEAR IN THE TMEA ALL STATE CONCERT BAND. THIS MUSIC WAS USED AT THE END OF THE FILM 'ALIEN', ARRIVING WITH THE ALIEN BLASTING AND THE END CREDITS
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Story behind the song
Symphony No. 2, The Romantic
I. Adagio - Allegro moderato
II. Andante con tenerezza (Interlochen theme and used in the film "Alien")
III. Allegro con brio
This song is also best known for its use in the end credits of the 1979 Ridley Scott film "Alien" (much to the dismay of the composer). The music arrives with the blasting of the alien and then quietly settles over the last minute of the film and the end credits. However, the song does not appear on the current edited dvds for sale today, only in the original motion picture.
After many years of being sent by my parents each summer to church camp, I finally convinced them, when I was 15, to let me audition and go to the Interlochen Academy National Music Camp.
The National Music Camp, as you might imagine, had rehearsals every day and concerts under the stars every night. Symphonic concerts always began with the Star Spangled Banner--- and ended with the Interlochen theme song: an excerpt from Howard Hanson's Symphony No. 2 ("The Romantic") -- which I had never heard before. Now known as the "Interlochen Theme", it is conducted by a student concertmaster after the featured conductor has left the stage. Traditionally, no applause follows its performance.
From the composer: "Concerning my second symphony, as the subtitle implies, it represents for me a definite and acknowledged embracing of the romantic phase. I recognize, of course, that romanticism is, at the present time, the poor stepchild, without the social standing
of her elder sister, neoclassicism. Nevertheless, I embrace her all the more fervently, believing, as I do, that romanticism will find in this country rich soil for a new, young, and vigorous growth".
"My aim, in this symphony, has been to create a work young in spirit, romantic in temperament, and simple and direct in expression".