COMPOSER SPOTLIGHT: SALVADOR ALAN JACOBO, "COLORS EVER SO VIBRANT"

On Saturday, May 4th, the Mid-America Freedom Band will be giving the world premiere of MCI composer Salvador Alan Jacobo's "Colors Ever So Vibrant." This new piece for concert band receives its world premiere as part of the band's theme for their 16th concert season - "Colors," a theme which (according to the group) "stems from [the colors] of the LGBT rainbow flag to shimmering metallics of the holidays and stark black-and-white photography of World War I."

We had the opportunity to speak with the composer about the inspirations which drove him to create this lyrical work for band. Read on to learn more about "Colors Ever So Vibrant" -

Describe your inspiration for composing the piece.
Even before I came out as gay in 2017, I wanted to write something for the LGBT community. Something that was beautiful but triumphant, musically depicting the perseverance of the community as we fight for equality.

What is the overall conception for the piece (for example, is it programmatic or abstract? Is there a specific formal structure, color, or musical device you employed?)
A main motif is introduced by solo horn in the beginning of the piece, a motif that brings the whole piece together. Suspensions, add2 and add9 chords are very common throughout this piece as well.

What are some of the goals you strove to accomplish in writing the work? What are some of the challenges you faced?
My only goal in writing this piece was to make it as lyrical and as beautiful as possible while not rambling on like a run-on sentence. That faced a challenge for me because I wanted to add something new at every transition but I had to stop myself from doing so; the piece would be 20 minutes long if I hadn't.

Is there anything specific about your piece that you'd like your audience to look out for?
I always have something hidden in my music, whether it be something musically hidden like an idea from an older piece of mine or a deeper meaning behind a passage or section of the piece. For "Colors Ever So Vibrant", the off-stage trumpet solo is a musical manifestation of a lost soul finding its way home. People within the LGBT community often face senseless violence and death; it wasn't their time to go. The departed are lost souls finding their way home.

​What do you hope your audience ultimately take away the most from hearing your work?
One thing that I want the audience to take from this piece is that while the LGBT community is being more understood and accepted today, we still face unnecessary hate and violence. Although we face those who do not understand or just plain hate, we will not give up hope for a better society, for acceptance. We will continue the fight for love.

Our flag flies high, and our colors are ever so vibrant.