À la Machaut integrates thematic material from 3 works of the great Medieval composer Guillaume de Machaut and adds a colorfully modern touch. This piece opens with a slow introduction using melodic and harmonic material from his polyphonic chanson Puis qu’en oubli

(“Since I am forgotten”). The upbeat percussion transitions the piece to the main material, quoting the melody of his secular verelai, Douce dame jolie (“Sweet lovely lady”) – beginning in the bassoon and passed around to numerous instruments in a soloistic and variation-like manner throughout the piece.  This piece also uses material from opening measures, the triplum voice, and the cantus firmus from Kyrie to Machaut’s Messe de Nostre Dame, which are labeled appropriately in the score. Reflective middle section brings back the slow material from the introduction while maintaining the upbeat rhythms introduced earlier in the percussion.  A short recapitulation revisits the verelai in several contrasting textures, leading to a climatic variation with shimmering winds, blasting percussion and low brass. A final tutti variation harmonizes the verelai and close the piece. The horns outline the parallel 5th motion of the #4-5 and #7-1 scale degrees in the last two measures, a cadential signature for many of the Medieval composers. – Andrew Boss.

“October is my favorite month. Something about the crisp autumn air and the subtle change in light always makes me a little sentimental, and as I started to sketch, I felt the same quiet beauty in the writing” – Eric Whitacre.  

Some of the most beautiful music have been written by composers for the birth of their children. Lullabye was written by the composer Bill Locklear the birth of his Joseph. – Bill Locklear 

With the first sounds of Transcendent Journey, I wanted to create a big, powerful, exhilarating chord that would grab the listener right away.  This introduction is the beginning of our “journey” and gives the melodic hint, stated by horns, to the heroic theme. The main theme should evoke not only the heroic quality of the melody, but also its beauty.  This is suited perfectly for the trumpets.  The listener should feel as though they can accomplish anything, no matter how challenging. I feel this is a melody that transcends all my others.  The same theme is ten stated in the horns and woodwinds, accompanied with rhythmic hits by the rest of the ensemble creating a stalwart sound.  

Then a short B section is introduced, performed by Piccolo and Oboe with delicate accompaniment.  Note the light relaxed feeling of joy in this section in contrast to the heroic material in the opening.  

Following the B section, the main theme returns, this time played by flutes, capturing the sensitive aspects of the heroic theme.  We now move into the slower section of the composition.  This warm melody is almost wistful with a sad, yearning quality.  It is repeated three times, each getting stronger, emotional, and very climatic.  

The final section is a fast-paced version of the introduction that includes extensive percussion and woodwind ostinato.  Exhilaration and achievement is what I am trying to convey here. We finally complete our “journey” with a slower, grand statement of the main theme performed by trumpets and trombones.  The piece ends with tutti ensemble bringing the transcendent journey to the end – Rossano Galante 2010. 

Don Haynes served as the Director of Bands at LBJ High School in Austin, Texas for 40 years. During his tenure, the LBJ Band performed across the globe including ambassador trips to Beijing, China, London, England, Paris, France, and Rome, Italy. Under his leadership, the Jaguar Band list of awards and accomplishments are numerous --   The LBJ Bands won first place honors in statewide and nationwide music festivals, including the first Fiesta Bowl Music Festival held in Phoenix, Arizona. The band consistently won sweepstakes honors at UIL marching and concert performances.  Mr. Haynes is often invited to adjudicate regional and area marching and concert competitions in Texas and across the country. He has on several occasions presented conducting clinics and motivational speeches at music conventions designed to assist music teachers, college students, and young music teachers.  In 2007, the Austin School Board named the new 500-seat auditorium at LBJ High School the “Don T. Haynes Theater”. While teaching at LBJ High School, his colleagues selected him “Teacher of the Year” four times. In 2015, he was recognized as the Outstanding Community Leader in Austin, Texas by the Austin Jazz Festival board.  Mr. Haynes is frequently invited to conduct region bands in Texas, New Mexico, Louisiana, Washington, South Carolina, and Florida.  Mr. Haynes is a past president of the Board of Directors for the Texas Bandmasters Association.  He presently serves as student teaching supervisor of college music majors at Texas State and Texas Tech universities.  Mr. Haynes is a life coach and consultant for music educators and professionals.

As a member of the Conn-Selmer education consultant team, Haynes served on 

The faculty with the 2018 and 2019 summer band director’s symposium in Los 

Angeles at the Arcadia Music Symposium.  At the Texas Bandmasters Association summer convention in 2018, Mr. Haynes was inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Texas Band Director’s Hall of Fame.