Intro to the Intro.

I couldn't resist sharing this photo of my apartment from a recent trip to Sofia, Bulgaria where we recorded 100-minutes of Music with the Sofia Symphoniker, a very fine 70-piece Orchestra.

Despite all the technological firsts STORMWORKS put on the map, I remain a bit old-fashioned when it comes to "blogs", and that sort of thing. I would rather have friendship the old fashioned way,not with "friends" but with people who feel free to call or write. If you want to write to me, please do!

In Sofia, we recorded Music that you will soon hear... and Music that is connected to "storm" works that you can do with your kids. Exciting Times ahead! Enjoy!

Dear Conductor, Musician, Music Student, Friend...

When STORMWORKS began in 1992-93, we were already living in a Time when technology allowed us to maintain contact without 3rd party intervention.

The more STORMWORKS expands, the greater becomes my need to maintain a personal contact with all the Conductors who play this Music throughout the world. It's also important for me to explain how we might interact, which, when I began, was easy. Now, with a worldwide network in place, the following explanations may help us.

When I began, I photocopied handwritten Music for interested Conductors. (Yes, can you believe it?) Over the years, the Music has been upgraded 5 times and now exists in a form which makes printing it, sending it on CD/DVD or via email easy. (I was sending eps files to Norway in 1993 for instance. It was fun then!)

When you order "printed" Music on Paper, you are receiving essentially the same thing that the original Commissioning Party received. That is, you are getting a Master Set of Parts, with one copy of each part, and a Tabloid Score.

Having been a band director for 17 years, I prefer this method which allows you to photocopy the parts ad infinitum for your students, while at the same time preserving a clean master set for your library.

Permission to photocopy the score for adjudicated events is given right on the score cover. I'd much rather have you invest in another piece!

Of course, you can also get the parts on CD/DVD, the advantages of which are almost too numerous to list... but I'm sure you can imagine. The parts are simple PDFs, nothing proprietary. These PDFs will produce high-quality prints, and can be sized any way you like! This is great for European paper sizes, but also for students with sight-disabilities and so on.

Always feel free to call me or send an email. Please consider me and the Music a "tool" in your arsenal. If I can help you in your efforts as a Music Educator, I will certainly try my best.

If you have any ideas or suggestions for improving this website, or if you run into problems, please don't hesitate in calling.

I sign all of my scores because Music is "personal" to me. I look forward to a mutually rewarding collaboration.

Informative FAQ's, Facts & Firsts...

And please be sure to read the STORMWORKS Story.

STORMWORKS/THEM

Stephen Melillo, Composer
209 Spinnaker Run
Smithfield, VA
23430-5623
USA

v/f 757-356-1928

"The Impossible Dream" from MAN OF LA MANCHA (1972)
music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion

To dream the impossible dream
To fight the unbeatable foe
To bear with unbearable sorrow
To run where the brave dare not go
To right the unrightable wrong
To love pure and chaste from afar
To try when your arms are too weary
To reach the unreachable star
This is my quest
To follow that star
No matter how hopeless
No matter how far
To fight for the right
Without question or pause
To be willing to march into Hell
For a heavenly cause
And I know if I'll only be true
To this glorious quest
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm
When I'm laid to my rest
And the world will be better for this
That one man, scorned and covered with scars
Still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable star