On Nov. 18, the ETSU Wind Ensemble will premiere “Tribute,” written by Dr. Joe D. Moore, ETSU professor and director of bands and athletic bands.
This piece is in honor of Dr. Benjamin D. Caton, who recently retired in 2020 after serving the ETSU faculty and students with 46 years of work. During his career, Caton was awarded National Teacher of the Year honors for 2021 by the Music Teachers National Association.
The Greenville Sun wrote, “Caton’s unanimous selection by the MTNA for this award ‘testifies to his unparalleled dedication to education and service in music,’” according to his colleague, Dr. Esther Park, associate professor of piano in the ETSU Department of Music. “This honor is only bestowed upon the best of the best teachers, and the fact that the MTNA unanimously voted to honor him is a testament to Dr. Caton’s legacy.”
“The work begins with an original melody based on his monogram – the musical pitches B, D, C- and using relationships both melodically and harmonically based on the interval of a third. Because Caton was a trombone player in the ETSU Band during his undergraduate years, the first movement opens with solo trombone followed by trombone choir,” said Moore.
This piece will have its world-premiere debut on Thursday, Nov. 18. It has never been played by an ensemble or heard by an audience.
Throughout the piece, there are melodies associated with Dr. Caton’s career, such as the “memorized melodies” that Caton taught each of his students. There is also a section of “Rescue the Perishing, Care for the Dying,” which Caton was known for interrupting his students who were struggling with their sight singing performances with the hymn.
“Fortunate are adults who view their work as children view their play,” said Caton. “I’ve been blessed and fortunate to be a teacher. I would not trade it for any other career.”
To hear the world premiere of “Tribute,” attend the final concert of the ETSU Concert Band and Wind Ensemble this Thursday, Nov. 18, at 7 p.m. in the Martin Center Grand Hall. Admission is free to students and the public.
