UM symphonic band to play Lewiston man’s original piece

When Seth Morton was taking piano lessons in 10th grade, he didn’t like practicing scales or playing etudes again and again and again. So instead of doing piano exercises, Morton went in another direction.

“I made stuff up,” said Morton, who is now 23. “It sounded a lot like something you’d hear on a Jim Brickman CD.”

Morton, who is from Lewiston, has been making stuff up again, this time for large ensembles. His newest work is “The Passing of the Torch,” a five-minute arrangement he wrote for the University of Maine Symphonic Band for which he plays the tuba. The band goes on tour this week with stops in Hancock, Searsport, Belfast, Camden, Acton, Saco and Farmington.

In addition to playing Morton’s piece, the band will perform “Fantasia in G Major” by J.S. Bach, “Freckles Rag” by Larry Buck, “Rhapsody for Euphonium” by Jerry Brubaker, “Salute to the Colors March” by Bert Anthony and Symphony No. 5 Finale by Dmitri Shostakovich, among other works. At some stops, high-school musicians and teachers will join the 65-piece college group, led by UM director of bands Curvin Farnham.

For “Torch,” Morton imagined the passage of the sun during a magnificent sunset, after which the moon takes over the light in the sky.

Was there a particular panorama that inspired the composer?

“Not really,” he said. “I sort of picture Cadillac Mountain because it’s a really good view. But I don’t picture a specific place. I picture specific colors. If you’ve seen ‘The Lion King’ and can picture the big red sun, that’s it.”

It’s an apt comparison. “Torch” is epic in its big sound, even as there are solo parts for flute, saxophone and trumpet. But the overall quality is more musical overture and movie score than the rousing tunes the band might play at a UM game.

“I like the fact that you have a large group of people who come together with the same goal of making something sound good,” said Morton, who added that he’s not an iPod owner or MP3 user. “I listen to a lot of stuff. I like arena rock – Boston and Queen. But I usually have songs in my head so I don’t have to listen to an iPod.”

Next year, Morton is off to do doctoral studies in the chemistry department of Pennsylvania State University. He may join the school band there, but it’s likely his focus will stay on science.

“I sort of use the same section of my brain – the visual side – to deal with science and music,” said Morton. “I’ve been toying with the idea of writing a piece called ‘The Elements,’ but I don’t know if I will.”

The University of Maine Symphonic Band will perform March 29 during school assemblies at Searsport High School and Belfast Area High School, and March 30 at Acton Elementary School and C.H. Burns Elementary School in Saco. Public concerts will take place 7 p.m. March 28 at Hancock Grammar School, 7 p.m. March 29 at Camden Hills Regional High School, 7:30 p.m. March 30 at First Parish Congregational Church in Saco, and 7:30 p.m. March 31 with the University of Maine Farmington Concert Band at the UMF gymnasium.