PROGRAM NOTE
After a long internal struggle over the composer’s calling to officership, this piece came quickly following the decision to accept the call. It features the tune Nottingham (T.B. 256) to which we associate the words “Take My Life and Let It Be.” The tune All I Have I Am Bringing to Thee (T.B. 542) is also utilized with the lyrics of the chorus being the particular focus. The piece was originally written for the Royal Oak Citadel Band in Michigan.
ABOUT THE COMPOSER
Stephen Hull spent five years as a child in Zambia where his Salvation Army officer parents were missionaries. Upon returning to the United States at age 10, he lived in Chicago and Royal Oak, Michigan where he was a music teacher until entering the training college in 1982. The next 20 years were spent in corps appointments in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan. In 2004, he returned to full time teaching in Florida, covering all levels from kindergarten to Grade 12 music with a focus on middle and high school band. From 2011 – 2016, he was the full-time music director at the Naples Corps where he developed and ran an after-school music program for low-income children. After teaching high school band for a year, Stephen took on the role of Divisional Music and Gospel Arts Director for the Wisconsin/Upper Michigan Division based in Milwaukee. He just recently retired after holding that position for 6 years. He has been married to his wife Jacqueline for 44 years. They have three children and four grandchildren. This is his second published piece in the MLB journal.