CHARIOT TO THE MOON, APOLLO - My First Suite for Symphonic Orchestra

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The last calendar year has seen the most growth in my music writing. In June, 2024, I was given the opportunity to work with the Huntsville Youth Orchestra in Alabama, and their resident composer, Robert Bradshaw. I stayed with them for one week preparing my piece "Mountain Storms and Valley Peace" for performance. (You can listen to the world premiere of spotify!) I cannot express the amount of information I received during this experience. It changed me for the better as a composer and as a musician. So much so, it inspired me to write my first suite for Symphonic Orchestra: Chariot to the Moon, Apollo.

Over the course of 5 months from August, 2024 - December, 2024, I composed this five movement-long suite detailing the achievements of man in the conquest of space; specifically, the Apollo Program. If you would like to know more information regarding the work, you can read my notes in the "About" section on page three. 

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This suite takes about 24 minutes to listen to in its entirety. I have decided to share the entire score, with a watermark added, for your enjoyment and to help with following the piece as it plays. I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments! Thanks for taking the time to look and listen to my composition!

Hi @MK_Piano!

The 1st movement fanfare reminds slightly of one of John Williams' Olympic Fanfare and Themes.  But on the whole it has a very wondrous and magical sound to it that I like!

2nd movement - this has a surprising Arabic/Egyptian flavor to it.  It might be because the main theme has a certain similarity to James Horner's Danger Theme.

3rd movement - this movement depicting the prospect of liftoff is a great hopeful ballad (at least in the beginning).  The inclusion of the U.S. National Anthem brings great nostalgia to the occasion.  It's also quite action-packed depicting well the intensity and explosive process of liftoff.  You have a great intermingling of themes from the 2nd movement - it's great when writing a multi-movement work that you get to make these big melodic gestures through thematic association.

4th movement - quite an eerie start that would be very appropriate to the weightless tumbling of the Apollo spacecraft towards the moon.  I can feel the enormous blackness and loneliness of space in this music.

5th movement - this starts off quite menacing.  If I didn't know any better I would venture to guess that the Apollo 11 spacecraft encountered some kind of dire emergency in space while trying to land on the moon.  Nice minor version of the National Anthem!  That's cool that you included the actual audio of the voices of the astronauts.  The music after that is so joyful and transcendent but still has a touch of wonder and awe.

Overall this is quite an accomplished orchestral suite!  Great job and thanks for sharing!