Difficulty- Advanced

Number of Players- 11 Players

Instrumentation- 4 Marimbas (2-5.0, 2-4.3), 2 Vibraphones (3.0), Glockenspiel, Chimes, Timpani (4), Impact Drum (2), Suspended Cymbals (10), Concert Bass Drum, Bell Plates (5), Metal Bowls (2), Vibra-Tones (4), Vibraslap, Tam-Tam, Concert Toms (10), Djembe, Brake Drum, Woodblock, Triangle, Splash Cymbal (2), Hi-Hat, China Cymbal

Publisher- Tapspace Publications (www.tapspace.com)

Program Notes-

"For-ti-tude - Mental or emotional strength in courageously facing difficulty, danger and adversity. 

“Faith and Fortitude” was a piece that I began in the Summer of 2016, but was fully realized later that year during the recovery of our daughter’s critical health challenges. For our family, it was an experience that resulted in waves of emotions, many times testing our core beliefs. Witnessing our daughter exude such courage when facing significant suffering and trials was at times inspiring and other times unbearable. Faith is how we endured. This piece is based on a series of five notes, which represent the five letters in the word “Faith”. The framework is built upon these five notes and additionally explores many different treatments of “FIVE” throughout. In the intro, the five note sequence is always presented in the same melodic order, however as the piece comes to a close, the last presentation of the five note theme is presented in reverse order, heard elongated in the glockenspiel and chime voices, as well as in the nuanced five-lets of the marimba layers. The significance of concluding with the notes in reverse order is a testament to Faith and resilience, symbolizing that with “Faith and Fortitude” you can turn anything around." -Julie Davila

Composer Bio-

Julie Davila is renowned percussionist, performer, music educator and clinician specializing in concert and marching percussion. She was inducted in to the WGI Percussion Hall of Fame in 2014, in recognition of over 20 years contributing to the marching arts activity as a leader, teacher, designer and adjudicator. Julie is a member of the chamber percussion ensemble the CAIXA TRIO, winner of a 2011 “Drummie” award by Drum Magazine.

In addition to her membership in the CAIXA TRIO, she currently serves as the President-Elect on the Executive Committee for the Percussive Arts Society. She is the arranger and instructor for the Middle Tennessee State University Band of Blue Drumline, and additionally an adjunct professor of percussion at MTSU. Prior to her work at MTSU, she was the percussion specialist at several high schools in Nashville, Tennessee. Many of her groups have medaled in all divisions of the WGI activity and the John Overton High School Indoor drum line, under her direction won a National Championship.

Julie is a member of the WGI and DCI nationally recognized adjudication teams. As an active clinician specializing in contemporary and marching percussion, she has performed in Poland, China, Peru, Seoul, South Korea, Paris, France, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Brazil and extensively throughout the United States. Julie is a proud alumni of the University of North Texas. She has published numerous marching and concert percussion ensembles and solos and is the author of the “Modern Multi-Tenor Techniques and Solos”, “Impressions on Wood” and “Inspirations 4 Mallets” and is a co-author of “Aptitude” an innovative solo snare book.

Julie is an endorser and clinician for Pearl/Adams, Innovative Percussion, the Avedis Zildjian Company, Grover Pro Percussion and Evans Drum Heads.