James Swearingen
Encyclopedia
James Swearingen is an American
composer and arranger
. He holds a Masters Degree from Ohio State University
and a Bachelors Degree from Bowling Green State University
and is currently Professor of Music, Department Chair of Music Education
at Capital University
, Columbus, Ohio
.
The music he writes is part of a small genre known throughout American
high school band classes as Concert Literature, generally two to six-minute long pieces played for high school
band concerts. He is a recipient of numerous ASCAP awards.
. Prior to his appointment at Capital in 1987, he spent eighteen years teaching instrumental music in the public schools of central Ohio
. His first teaching assignment took him to the community of Sunbury, Ohio
. He then spent fourteen years as Director of Instrumental Music at Grove City
High School, where his marching
, concert
and jazz
band
s all received acclaim for their high standards of performing excellence.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Swearingen manages to be very active as a guest conductor, adjudicator and educational clinician. Appearances have included trips throughout the United States, as well as Japan
, Australia
, Europe
, Canada
and The Republic of China.
Swearingen's numerous contributions for band have been well-received by school directors, student performers and audiences worldwide. With over 450 published works, he has written band compositions and arrangements that reflect a variety of musical forms and styles. Many of his pieces, including 81 commissioned works, have been chosen for contest and festival lists. He is a recipient of several ASCAP awards for published compositions and in 1992 was selected as an Accomplished Graduate of the Fine and Performing Arts from Bowling Green State University. Most recently, he received the 2002 Community Music Educator Award given annually by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
. He is a member of numerous professional and honorary organizations including Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA), MENC: The National Association for Music Education
, American School Band Directors' Association (ASBDA), Phi Beta Mu, Pi Kappa Lambda
, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
. In March 2000, he was invited to join the American Bandmasters Association
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer and arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
. He holds a Masters Degree from Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
and a Bachelors Degree from Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
and is currently Professor of Music, Department Chair of Music Education
Music education
Music education is a field of study associated with the teaching and learning of music. It touches on all domains of learning, including the psychomotor domain , the cognitive domain , and, in particular and significant ways,the affective domain, including music appreciation and sensitivity...
at Capital University
Capital University
Capital University is a private liberal arts university of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America located in Bexley, Ohio, founded in 1830. In addition to its rigorous liberal arts program, the university also offers a reputable adult degree program in Columbus, Ohio. It is one of the oldest...
, Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
.
The music he writes is part of a small genre known throughout American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
high school band classes as Concert Literature, generally two to six-minute long pieces played for high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
band concerts. He is a recipient of numerous ASCAP awards.
Biography
He is currently one of several resident composers at Capital University and also serves as a staff arranger for The Ohio State University Marching BandThe Ohio State University Marching Band
The Ohio State University Marching Band performs at Ohio State football games and other events during the fall quarter...
. Prior to his appointment at Capital in 1987, he spent eighteen years teaching instrumental music in the public schools of central Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. His first teaching assignment took him to the community of Sunbury, Ohio
Sunbury, Ohio
Sunbury is a village in Delaware County, Ohio, United States. The population was 4,389 at the 2010 census. The village is centered around a New England-styled traditional town square with the historic village hall located in the center of a village green...
. He then spent fourteen years as Director of Instrumental Music at Grove City
Grove City, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 27,075 people, 10,265 households, and 7,544 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,941.2 people per square mile . There were 10,712 housing units at an average density of 768.0 per square mile...
High School, where his marching
Marching band
Marching band is a physical activity in which a group of instrumental musicians generally perform outdoors and incorporate some type of marching with their musical performance. Instrumentation typically includes brass, woodwinds, and percussion instruments...
, concert
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
band
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
s all received acclaim for their high standards of performing excellence.
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Swearingen manages to be very active as a guest conductor, adjudicator and educational clinician. Appearances have included trips throughout the United States, as well as Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and The Republic of China.
Swearingen's numerous contributions for band have been well-received by school directors, student performers and audiences worldwide. With over 450 published works, he has written band compositions and arrangements that reflect a variety of musical forms and styles. Many of his pieces, including 81 commissioned works, have been chosen for contest and festival lists. He is a recipient of several ASCAP awards for published compositions and in 1992 was selected as an Accomplished Graduate of the Fine and Performing Arts from Bowling Green State University. Most recently, he received the 2002 Community Music Educator Award given annually by the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Columbus Symphony Orchestra
The Columbus Symphony is an American symphony orchestra based in Columbus, Ohio. The oldest performing arts organization in the city, its home is the Ohio Theatre. The orchestra's current President and Chief Creative Officer is Roland Valliere...
. He is a member of numerous professional and honorary organizations including Ohio Music Education Association (OMEA), MENC: The National Association for Music Education
MENC: The National Association for Music Education
MENC: The National Association for Music Education is an organization of American music educators dedicated to advancing and preserving music education and as part of the core curriculum of schools in the United States...
, American School Band Directors' Association (ASBDA), Phi Beta Mu, Pi Kappa Lambda
Pi Kappa Lambda
Pi Kappa Lambda is an American honor society for undergraduate students, graduate students, and professors of music. There are currently 205 active chapters and approximately 64,500 individual members....
, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
. In March 2000, he was invited to join the American Bandmasters Association
American Bandmasters Association
The American Bandmasters Association was formed in 1929 by Edwin Franko Goldman to promote concert band music. Goldman sought to raise esteem for concert bands among musicians and audiences...
.
Recordings
Many of Swearingen's most popular band compositions have been recorded by The Washington Winds and are available on compact discs from Walking Frog Records. His recordings include In All Its Glory, Exaltation, Panther in the Sky, Celebration For Winds And Percussion, The Light Of Dawn, and the newest release, Flight of Valor.Compositions
| Title | Published | Grade | Length(in minutes) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In All its Glory | 1989 | 4 | 6:03 | |
| All Glory Told | 2005 | 3.5 | 6:34 | |
| American Faces | ||||
| And the Angels Called | 2005 | 3 | 6:58 | |
| Ashton Overture | ||||
| Aventura | 1984 | 3 | 5:47 | |
| Baywood Overture | 1991 | 1 | 3:24 | |
| Beautiful Savior | 2003 | 3 | 2:47 | A celebration through the singing of hymns. |
| Blue Ridge Saga | 1990 | 3 | 6:27 | |
| Bring It On Home | 1993 | 3 | ||
| Big Brass Attack | 1987 | 3 | ||
| Boogie Down | 1981 | 3 | ||
| Breakthrough | 1995 | 3 | ||
| Brookpark Overture | 1983 | 2.5 | 3:18 | |
| Bunker Hill Overture | 1994 | 2 | 3:33 | |
| Carnival Del Soul | 1991 | 3 | Jazz piece accompanied with styles of Latin Latin Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and... funk rock |
|
| Carolina Legend | 1991 | 2 | 4:09 | |
| Celebration and Dance | 1991 | 3.5 | 5:36 | |
| 1.5 | 3:22 | |||
| Celebration for Winds and Percussion | 1999 | 3 | 5:56 | |
| Centuria | 1986 | 3 | 5:29 | |
| Chesford Portrait | 1982 | 3 | 6:19 | |
| Children of the Shrine | 2000 | 3 | 2:33 | |
| Clark County Celebration | 2007 | 2 | 4:32 | Describes the wondrous events and happenings in Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous... in Clark County, Nevada Clark County, Nevada -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,375,765 people, 512,253 households, and 339,693 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 71.6% White , 9.1% Black, 5.7% Asian, 0.8% American Indian and 12.8% of other or mixed race. 22.0% were Hispanic of any race... . |
| Color Of The Guard | 1980 | 3 | ||
| Comin’ Alive | 1988 | 3 | ||
| Covington Square | 1985 | 3 | 5:06 | |
| Crosswinds march | 2007 | 2 | 2:03 | |
| Crunch Time! | 2007 | 2 | 1:58 | |
| (The Legend of) Danny Boy | 2000 | 3 | 2:20 | Features solo cornet/trumpet and exposed woodwind section |
| Dawn of a New Day | 1993 | 3.5 | 5:55 | |
| Denbridge Way | 1979 | 3 | 4:54 | |
| Eiger (Journey to the Summit) | 2007 | 3 | 5:37 | When John Harlin III lost his father John Harlin from a tragic incident of falling down from the mountain Eiger Eiger The Eiger is a mountain in the Bernese Alps in Switzerland. It is the easternmost peak of a ridge crest that extends across the Mönch to the Jungfrau at 4,158 m... , Harlin III decides to accomplish his father's dream by climbing up the mountain himself 40 years later. |
| Entrance of the Tall Ships | ||||
| Exaltation | 1978 | 3.5 | ||
| Fired Up | 3 | |||
| Firenze | 3 | |||
| Flight of Valor Flight of Valor Flight of Valor is a musical piece written by James Swearingen as a memorial for the victims of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, during the September 11, 2001, attacks.... |
2002 | 4 | Written as a memorial for the victims of United Airlines Flight 93, which crashed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, during the September 11, 2001, attacks. | |
| Follow the River | 2004 | 3 | 3:24 | Based on the novel by James Alexander Thom James Alexander Thom James Alexander Thom is an American author, most famous for his works in the Western genre and colonial American history; known for their historical accuracy borne of his painstaking research. Born in Gosport, Indiana, he graduated from Butler University and served in the United States Marine Corps... , the young woman escapes from the Shawnee Indians and tries to find her way home by following the Ohio River Ohio River The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream... . |
| Forever Shining | 2010 | 3 | 6:00 | This composition takes its inspiration from a special group of people who touched the lives of the East Mecklenburg High School (Charlotte, North Carolina) band program. This emotional work is beautifully written and scored to evoke the many emotions of life's joy. |
| Freedom’s March | ||||
| Get On Down | 3 | |||
| Go For It | 3 | |||
| Gotta Get Down | 3 | |||
| Grand Canyon Overture | ||||
| Hip Stick | 3 | |||
| Hot Samba Nueva | 3 | |||
| How Firm Thy Friendship | ||||
| Instant Concert | ||||
| In the Presence of Heroes | ||||
| In the Wake of Spring | 2002 | 1.5 | 2:02 | Written in dedication of a local teacher at Hilliard Memorial Middle School Hilliard Memorial Middle School Hilliard Memorial Middle School is one of three middle schools in Hilliard, Ohio, and is a part of the Hilliard City School District. The principal of the middle school is Mr. Barry Bay. The school's mascot is the jaguar, and this middle school will eventually feed into the school district's... . |
| In the Winter of 1730 | ||||
| In Time of Triumph | ||||
| Into the Joy of Spring | 2001 | 3.5 | 6:14 | Contains three movements, with the first movement in the fury of winter and transitioning into the second movement, spring. The third movement is celebrating the joys of Spring. |
| In Quest of Uluru | ||||
| Invicta | 1981 | 3 | 6:00 | This is a very moving piece that has a great flow to it. |
| Journey to the Summit | ||||
| Jubilance | 3 | |||
| Just Do It! | 3 | |||
| La Fiesta Brava | 3 | |||
| Legacy | ||||
| The Legend of the Nighthawk | ||||
| The Light Eternal | 1992 | 4 | 7:35 | Depicts the Four Chaplains Four Chaplains The Four Chaplains, also sometimes referred to as the "Immortal Chaplains," were four United States Army chaplains who gave their lives to save other civilian and military personnel during the sinking of the troop ship USAT Dorchester during World War II. They helped other soldiers board lifeboats... who sacrificed their lives during the World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... on the sinking USAT Dorchester. |
| The Light of Dawn | ||||
| Majestia | 4 | |||
| Majestia Excalibur | ||||
| Make a Joyful Noise! | ||||
| Mambo Cubano | 2.5 | |||
| Montero | 3 | |||
| Nightflight | 2008 | 4 | 6:35 | While traveling by air, the composer was able to view three distinctive scenes of the city of Miami, Florida that are all musically portrayed in this significant and creative new work. High energy, driving tempos, memorable themes, Latin percussion and contemporary harmonies all combine to create a remarkable and exciting three movement suite. This wonderful composition is destined to become a standard in the repertoire of wind band literature. |
| Northpointe Fantasy | 2005 | 2.5 (For better middle school bands and all high schools) | ||
| Novena (Rhapsody for Band) | 3.5 | Features a soli by a Clarinet Clarinet The clarinet is a musical instrument of woodwind type. The name derives from adding the suffix -et to the Italian word clarino , as the first clarinets had a strident tone similar to that of a trumpet. The instrument has an approximately cylindrical bore, and uses a single reed... , an Alto Saxophone Alto saxophone The alto saxophone is a member of the saxophone family of woodwind instruments invented by Belgian instrument designer Adolphe Sax in 1841. It is smaller than the tenor but larger than the soprano, and is the type most used in classical compositions... , and a Piccolo Piccolo The piccolo is a half-size flute, and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger sibling, the standard transverse flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written... . |
||
| Ol' Glory March | ||||
| Panther in the Sky | 2004 | 2.5 | 3:35 | |
| Park Street Celebration | 1980 | 2 | ||
| Prelude and Energico | ||||
| Procession For A New Day | ||||
| Proud Spirit | 1990 | 3 | 3:16 | |
| Of Pride And Celebration | 6:27 | |||
| Seagate Overture | 1988 | 4 | 8:34 | |
| A Song of Hope | 2002 | 2 | 2:35 | |
| In Times of Triumph | ||||
| A Vision of Majesty | ||||
| When Kings Go Forth | ||||
| Where the River Flows | ||||
| Windemere | ||||
| The Distant Castle |
Grading Scale
According to Swearingen's web site, he grades the difficulty of performing his compositions using the following scale:- 1 - Easy (for first year beginning bands)
- 2 - Medium Easy (for second and third year bands)
- 3 - Medium (for intermediate or early high school bands)
- 4 - Medium Difficult (for most high school bands)