THIS IS A VERY BEAUTIFUL, SONOROUS COMPOSITION WRITTEN BY THE VERY PROLIFIC COMPOSER, CLAUDE T. SMITH. HIS WORKS HAVE BEEN DESCRIBED AS 'CONTEMPORARY ROMANTIC'. THIS PREMIERED AT THE MISSOURI MEA IN 1976. PERFORMED BY THE 1977 TEXAS TECH CONCET BAND.
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Story behind the song
This piece was conceived at the annual Missouri Music Educators convention at a meeting of the young Lambda chapter of Phi Beta Mu, a professional organization for Band Directors. The president of the Phi Beta Mu Chapter, Charles Emmons, entertained motions concerning service projects. Bill Maupin made a motion that the chapter commission a work for concert band. This was agreed upon and Claude Smith, who was also a member of this organization, was asked to compose the work. Although a small fee was added to the individual dues of this chapter in support of the project, Smith composed "Concert Variations," at a much reduced price to help inaugurate this worthwhile tradition. It was premiered at the Music Educators Convention in 1976. "Concert Variations" was published the following year, in 1977, by Wingert-Jones Music, Inc. of Kansas City, Missouri. The Dedication simply reads, Commissioned by Lambda Chapter (Missouri) of Phi Beta Mu.