Musical Musings by Charles Booker

• Times Remembered: The Music of Charles L. Booker, Jr. Volume III
  Recorded by: River Valley Community Band of Fort Smith Arkansas (exceptions: Crossed Sabres & Guns Up!)
  Conducted by the composer
  Released: summer of 2009
  This CD features Charles Booker compositions for younger bands, classes 2.5 - 4.0
• American Jubilee: The Music of Charles L. Booker, Jr. Volume II
  Recorded by: Various Bands and conductors
  Released: November 2008
  Publisher: Mark 8104-MCD
  This CD focuses on Charles Booker compositions for "mature" bands
• Centra-fuge: The Music of Charles L. Booker, Jr. Volume I
  Recorded by: New Mexico State University Wind Symphony
  Conducted by Dr. Ken Van Winkle
  Released: March 2008
  Publisher: Mark 7028 - MCD
  This CD includes Charles Booker Compositions specifically selected by Dr. Van Winkle

Charles L. Booker, Jr. has been been selected to be this year's Composer/Conductor-In-Residence at Friends University in Wichita, Kanas with the Wichita Wind Ensembles.  Read it all

The 106th Army Band, Arkansas National Guard, has a new work dedicated to Command Seargeant Major Thomas L. Walker upon his retirement after 37 years of service. The 106th is commanded by Chief Warrant Officer Two Keith D. Dortch. The Grade 4 piece is entitled Pathways  and was premiered by the 106th Army Band, Arkansas National Guard, on April 18, 2010 in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Pathways can be purchased for $85.00, including both Score and Parts, $15.00 for just the score.

The Bethel Middle School Bands, in Bryant, Arkansas, Sotonya and Greg Gordey, Directors, have commissioned a new composition, Look Homeward Citizen Soldier, which is dedicated to the Arkansas National Guard who have bravely served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The work will be premiered May 11, 2010 at Bethel Middle School, composer conducting. Look Homeward Citizen Soldier can be purchased for $65.00, which includes Score and Parts, $5.00 for just the score.

Switchback has been commissioned by the Northwinds Symphonic Band of Gainesville, Georgia, Ron Evans, Conductor, and will be premiered on their winter concert in 2010. The title aptly describes traveling the roads of mountainous northern Georgia.

Switchback is a one movement - theme and variations - that never loses its intensity and is an exciting ride from start to finish. Length is 7:45; Grade 5. Available for purchase in late summer of 2010.

Brilliant Legacy - Suite for Band was commissioned by Harding University Band alumni and friends in honor of the 80th birthday of Dr. G.E. Baggett, Professor of Music and first Director of Bands at Harding University. Suite for Band was premiered on April 23, 2009 by the Handing University Wind Ensemble, Dr. Michael Chance, director.
Movement I - Brother
Movement II - Home
Movement III - The Swing

The Ramsey Junior High School Band (Fort Smith, Arkansas) under the direction of Band Director John Combs commissioned me to compose an overture in honor of their two previous band directors, Audra Cowan and Dwayne Walker. Times Remembered premiered by the Ramsey Junior High School Band May 5, 2009, John Combs, conducting.

The United States Air Force Academy Band released in December 2008 their new CD "Colorado Blue" which contains American Dances by Charles Booker. The CD is free; just email the Academy for your copy

San Antonio's Northside ISD and the Northside Education Foundation have chosen Charles Booker, John Jay High School alumnus, to represent the "Pillar of Character" Caring for 2008.  Read it all

The Arkansas Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship awards are unconditional, non-matching awards made directly to individual artists based on the creative excellence of works submitted for review.  Read it all

Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra was premiered March 2nd at Texas State University, with Todd Oxford performing on Alto Saxophone and Howard Hudiberg conducting the TSU Symphony Orchestra.

In April the University of Central Arkansas premiered the Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Band with Dr. Jackie Lamar performing the saxophone solo and Dr. Ricky Brooks conducting the UCA Wind Ensemble. The piece actually was originally commissioned by Jackie Lamar in 2007 and Charles Booker composed both versions in the fall of 2007 while on sabbatical.

Last night was the Arkansas Composers Forum concert featuring works by myself - Charles Booker, Reber Clark, Philip Parker, Francis McBeth, and Steven Bryant. Hal Cooper, director of bands at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville was our host. The band did a great job on all the works, and I was particularly happy with their performance of my Symphony #1 "Prophecy", Movement I - His Promise.

Each of the composers conducted his own work, so a big "thank you" to the band for putting up with a different composer for each work, and for tolerating a gaggle of composers to begin with! It was great to meet you all!

Mr. Booker recently received a commission to compose a grade 2 band piece for the 100th anniversary of the opening of the historical site park for the Battle of Prairie Grove that took place in December of 1862. It will be composed for the Prairie Grove High School Band, Mr. Gerry Nichols, director. Civil War Saga was premiered on January 9, 2009.

I was approached at the 2006 Texas Bandmasters Association Convention by Dr. Ken Van Winkle, Director of Bands and conductor of the Wind Symphony at NMSU, about the possibility of recording a CD of my compositions, especially my Symphony #1...

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American Jubilee, Concert Overture for Band, was composed in the summer and late fall of 2006 for the South Jersey Area Wind Ensemble of Linwood, New Jersey. Keith W. Hodgson, Conductor. American Jubilee is a short concert overture...

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The University of Central Arkansas Wind Ensemble, Conductor Dr. Ricky Brooks, commissioned me to compose a new piece for them in celebration of their 100th anniversary. It is entitled Centra-fuge: Homage to Hank Levy and Don Ellis...

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"American Dances", commissioned by the U.S. Air Force Academy Band, premiered at the Arkansas Bandmaster's Conference July 24, 2006... Sammy Nestico "critiques" the performance one week later at TBA Convention...

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Read a synopsis and Reviews of Symphony No. 1 "Prophecy" by Robert Sheldon and Mark Camphouse

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