Many years ago while attending the Illinois Music Education Conference I went to a concert by the Illinois State University Wind Symphony with Stephen K. Steele conducting. It was there I first heard a work by David Maslanka. I think the work was A Child’s Garden of Dreams, but I’m reaching back nearly 30 years. Fast forward to the early 2000’s I was introduced to David Maslanka’s music more appropriately. I happened to marry the principal clarinetist of the Illinois State University Wind Symphony that recorded Maslanka’s Mass. I’m forever thankful that she re-introduced me to David’s music.

David Maslanka’s collegiate training began at Oberlin Conservatory where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. He received his Master’s and PhD in music from Michigan State University. Maslanka’s principal teacher at MSU was H. Owen Reed. My favorite composition by H. Owen Reed is La Fiesta Mexicana. Following his collegiate study he began working as a music professor at many different colleges: State University of New York at Geneseo, Sarah Lawrence College, New York University, Kingsborough Community College, and the City University of New York. In 1990 Maslanka retired from teaching and made his living solely on commissions.

In 1981 David married his dearest Allison and they raised a family of three children. Sadly Allison lost her life to an immune disorder in the summer of 2017. David followed her barely a month later becoming victim of cancer. All three children survived their parents’ passings. Son, Matthew an accomplished musician in his own right operates his father’s music website and publishing company. Matthew also finished Symphony #10 following his father’s sketches. I would like to thank Matthew and his siblings for continuing your father’s musical legacy. His spirit lives on through you all.

I had the pleasure of meeting David Maslanka at a performance of his Symphony #4 with the Western Illinois University Wind Symphony, Dr. Mike Fansler conducting. I had a pleasant chat with him before and after the concert. From our chat, I realized that he composed his music from a serene spiritual place. There was an internal intuition for his musical development and the study of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Hymns and Chorales were an inspiration (source) of many of his works. The Symphony #4 employs the Old Hundred, Only Trust in God to Guide You, and Christ Who Makes Us Holy within its form. Of his ten symphonies this one receives the most performances. I caught the University of Iowa Wind Symphony, Dr. Richard Mark Heidel conductor perform the 4th in tribute to David Maslanka during the 2017-2018 academic year. I would encourage anyone reading this to listen to this symphony. I have three or four recordings of it, but I find the Illinois State University Wind Symphony just a bit more emotional, empathetic, and reflective. Here is a link from Amazon for the 2-cd set through Albany Records. https://www.amazon.com/Concertos-Symphony-No-David-Maslanka/dp/B000A139CU

The pinnacle of Maslanka’s earlier work is his Child’s Garden of Dreams. Inspired by dreams of a ten year old girl within Carl Jung’s Man and his Symbols, Maslanka paints the dreams musically over five distinct movements. This music is much different than the symphonies. I do think it is an important work to consider as the music provokes great thought and reflection. There seems to be a cerebral turning point in process that leads to the magnificent work once he retires from academia. I’m drawn into the “interpretations” of the dreams by Maslanka. Each one stands on its own, but the suite is best played together. I have three superb recordings: Cincinnati Wind Symphony (Emblems-Klavier,) University of Massachusetts-Amherst (Mark Custom,) and Illinois State University (Albany.) Each of them brings different perspectives, but the Cincinnati recording is the best engineered in my opinion.

The only piece by Maslanka that I ever considered programming with my community college band was Give Us This Day: A Short Symphony for Band. I hemmed and hawed about it for three years. This is a magnificent work for a musical group needing a more mature musical concept to achieve. I have heard many college and high school (honor bands) perform this work. Of the three I highly recommended pieces in this blog this happens to be the shortest and most accessible for developing groups. The title comes from the Lord’s Prayer. The music really celebrates this metaphor. Do I regret never performing it? Yes and No. I wish I could have dug into this work with that band to see if I could inspire them. Yet, I am glad I didn’t because these were community players with a desire to play music that was more tangible to their experience. Maslanka’s music was tangible to maybe three adults in the group. I would have let David down to put on a lackluster musical performance. I have so many recordings of this work. Most of them through the Mark Custom Recording Label in Clarence, NY. I may know the owner… Ha Ha!!! Hi Mark!! Rutgers Wind Ensemble does an excellent job with William Berz conducting. It is the New York Pictures album. Timothy Rhea does a nice job with the Texas A & M Wind Symphony Masterworks Volume 5.

Maslanka’s music is spiritual. It is highly repetitive and dense at times. Yet, it always tends to pause and reflect on Bach’s genius in so many ways. I wish there were more champions of David Maslanka’s music. His music still captures me, and I often reflect deeply when I listen. If you need more resources to examine his work please visit https://davidmaslanka.com. His music really breathes and celebrates life. I miss him. Meeting him and actually discussing music with him ranks very high on my most memorable musical moments. …in his honor…

Give us this day