The Clapping Song

The Clapping Song was written in 2022 by Randall D. Standridge (see below) on a commission from the Temecula Middle School Band in Temecula, California.

From the composer:

“The most common question I get in my career is ‘Where do you get your ideas? The answers I provide are undoubtedly disappointing to the person who asked as I am one of the least romantic composers people will ever meet. They always seem to expect some big, larger story. Something to the effect of ‘I was walking down the road, and I saw a deer. We looked at each other and his gaze made me question the nature of my existence. I tried to capture the deer and that morning in this work.’ Blah, Blah, Blah, Yak, Yak, Yak.

For me, the bottom line is that music is just a collection of sounds. Can they express a larger story or concept? Sure, but that doesn't change the fact that it is the designed sounds across time that create this art form. And sometimes, for the very best composers, I believe, that is enough. The way the sounds interact and the resultant aesthetic experience is the ultimate point to any piece of music regardless of its larger meaning. If it doesn't work without its larger story, then, in my opinion, it just doesn't work.

The Clapping Song has no larger story. It simply started off with me sitting at my desk and clapping the rhythm which begins the work. I liked the way it sounded and so I continued adding elements and writing further into it. The piece grew and grew and went in some unexpected directions; the final result is part symphonic, part tribal, part boot-scootin’ country, and just a little touch of blues.

Due to its lack of story and lack of central thematic style, the hardest part was coming up with a title. When I first saved it on my computer, I saved it as “The Clapping Song”. I tried to think of several other titles. A few other contenders were: ‘Rhythmatic’, ‘Rhythm Dance’, and ‘What Is This?’ After consideration, I decided I liked the original file name the best, and it just stuck.

This work was commissioned by the Temecula Middle School Band and their director, Mr. Ivan Aviles. I wish to thank them for trusting me with this project and for allowing me to hang out in some of the weirder parts of my imagination. Thank you for allowing me to be an artist.”

Randall Standridge (b.1976) received his Bachelor's of Music Education from Arkansas State University. During this time, he studied composition with Dr. Tom O'Connor, before returning to Arkansas State University to earn his Master's in Music Composition, studying with Dr. Tom O'Connor and Dr. Tim Crist. In 2001, he began his tenure as Director of Bands at Harrisburg High School in Harrisburg, Arkansas. He left this post in 2013 to pursue a career as a full-time composer and marching arts designer.

Mr. Standridge’s music is performed internationally. He has had numerous works selected for the J.W. Pepper's editor's choice. His compositions Snake Charmer, Gently Blows the Summer Wind, and Angelic Celebrations have been included in the “Teaching Music Through Performance in Band” series.

He has had numerous works performed at the prestigious Midwest Clinic in Chicago, Illinois. The Arkansas State University Wind Ensemble premiered his work Art(isms) at the 2010 CBDNA conference in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and his work Stonewall: 1969 was premiered at the National LGBA conference in 2019. His Symphony no.1: A Ghost Story was premiered in 2023. In addition, Mr. Standridge’s “unBroken Project”, a musical initiative about mental health, has received widespread acclaim for its musical content and for providing opportunities to normalize discussions about mental health for music students and audiences.

In addition to his career as a composer, Mr. Standridge is the owner and editor of Randall Standridge Music, LLC and Grand Mesa Marching. He is in demand as an arranger/designer for the marching arts. He lives in Jonesboro, Arkansas, with his husband, Steven, and their very, very spoiled pets.

The music for The Clapping Song was provided for the band by Shirley Crain.