STORMWatch is an infrequently sent personal communication. Please, create a STORMFile in some special and safe place. I won't be sending things often. I suggest a 3-Ringed Binder! Godspeed.

After trying to get Music published since 1979, and after having been told that "there was no market" for this Music, I sent one piece to one band in late 1992.

Captain Robert Pouliot, Lt. Colonel Richard A. Shelton and Lt. Larry Lang gave me the opportunity to create and present STORMWORKS and A WALK IN JURASSIC PARK in 1993.

In 1993, many conductors were already playing this unpublishable Music. I owe a great deal to many and must mention my new friends & champions, Mr. Ed Lisk, Mr. Stephen Hand, Dr. Francis McBeth... and those many directors who have premiered and/or championed this work. They have my continued gratitude, respect and affection.

In one year, and by word-of-mouth, 280 STORMDirectors, as I call them, have either ordered Music or commissioned new works! In fact, in one year, there have been 15 commissions.

I've had the opportunity to speak with most of you personally via letters and the telephone and in 15 cases so far, I've actually met with you and shared in the creative and educational process.

Dr. Joe Scagnoli from Ball State University came right out with it and bravely said what many of you have likewise hinted at. He said, "Steve, don't give in.... don't start writing music that 'sells', keep it coming from the heart."

I smiled. Each of us has a story, pays dues ranging from the annoying to the tragic and exacts a price for the pursuit of our beliefs. So here now, my pledge, which I share with you, and have lived since I first recognized my responsibility to all that Music can stand for. I will write what I believe in the deepest part of me NEEDS to be said and what I believe kids will want to be a part of. This Music, as stated in musical code within A WALK IN JURASSIC PARK, will always come from my heart.

Therein lies the entire secret of why STORMWORKS came to be. It is Integrity itself which urges me to bypass all entities that would stand between us. And so, Dr. Joe, and friends soon to be... fear not. I will always be... financially successful or not, a Storm Boy!

Success is often a thing individuals settle for when they can't imagine a venture Noble enough, a daring idea Worthy enough to fail at.

I have always enjoyed writing a personal note to the kids. The quote printed above comes from a time long ago. It encapsulates my feelings with regard to Music and the birth of STORMWORKS.

Please remember this: YOU are as crucial to rendering the Music as I am in writing it. STORMWORKS offers many things that publishers can't. At the same time, STORMWORKS is NOT a publisher. Some of the things that you may be accustomed to, will be different. I need you to understand this!

I can't send you mini scores free of charge. Cassette tapes and advertising will be limited. The money to provide you with some of the things you may be used to just isn't there. If you could be understanding of that, then all of us could set forth on a new and exciting collaboration, one which will soon be emulated... the kind which I think was meant for Music and Music Education.

When I do a commission, I send the director a Master Set of Score and Parts, to photocopy from. Conveniently sized, collated copies can be quickly prepared for inclusion in your students' 3-ring binder or folder. Using this system, there are many advantages which outweigh any negatives.

When you order a piece, you will receive a MASTER set for your library. Please consider yourselves extenders of that original commission. I am not a publisher, and when you play my Music, you are continuing the letter, and continuing the message in the Music.

Godspeed. Stephen Melillo

I first wrote Music for two reasons.

1. I wanted my students to have something special, unique, and challenging within reach!
2. I ran out of words. I wrote journal after poem after story... and then the words ran out. Only Music could speak the myriad things. I would say, "If pictures speak a thousand words, then Music must speak a thousand pictures."

I set out to write one work, a piece I could say was mine. This would satisfy my urge to compose. Having accomplished that, I could move on. That was 768 arrangements and compositions ago!

One day a student took note of my "Sincerely, Stephen Melillo" which came at the end of all the parts. He said, "you should publish your music and call yourself SIGNATURE SOUND."

Although I never self-published my music, I did call myself SIGNATURE SOUND... that is, until I found out, years later, that the name had already been taken. I was amidst the composing of STORMWORKS, the piece, when ASCAP called, requesting a different name. Over the phone, I said, "let's call it STORMWORKS".

The name cleared. STORMWORKS became the most fitting name of all because of the metaphor which binds and connects all of these work, regardless of the medium.

The STORM is a metaphor for LIFE. In all STORM-WORKS, there is the promise of Hope's eventual Triumph over Darkness.

The first piece I had published... by Bourne, was entitled The Triumphant. It was a "Storm" work. Unfortunately, a work which had taken three days to compose took three years to publish! With 768 pieces and more to come, I decided that the ratio of composition time to publishing time was too disproportionate. I don't have 2,304 years to play with! Life is short.

Speaking of ratios, let me explain the STORMWORKS logo. It is a composition proportioned in the Fibonacci Series, a geometric sequence which serves as the architecture for many of the Storm compositions, most recently, THE FOUNTAINHEAD. Having been deeply affected by Hugo Norden and the premise that Form is an ever-present and silent language which speaks to us through the medium of the notes, I could not help but illustrate this "pointer" to the Storm Music in the most simple of ways... a graphic.

Not only do I strive for an organic relationship within the body of a single work.... (hence examples like DNA & the DiNO)... but I also develop a continuous relationship to all other works... as if ONE totally interrelated composition were being revealed... one STORM WORK. This will become apparent when STORMWORKS reaches its conclusion.

The Connections Diagram illustrates just SOME of these CONNECTIONS! (pdf)

With You, I share the music I write. I send these words realizing your busy schedule. I have a simple, clear purpose. In an effort to compose Music which contributes to the repertoire while providing fellow band directors and student musicians with enjoyable, challenging and educational experiences, I am creating, and will continue to create, STORMWORKS.

What's in it for me? Again, this can be stated simply. I get to write the Music that I want to write. It passes by no board of homogenizers. Music and program notes are not edited. YOU choose. YOU are the champion who brings the Music to life. There's no one between you and I dictating what you will like and what I should write. For those of you who just smiled... you're my kind of Conductor.

I realize, well in advance, that I will not be writing for the masses... No, I'll be writing for STORMDirectors! You see? I look forward to joining with you in the noble task of teaching fine, young student Musicians, and in sharing the joy and wonder of Music.

STORMWORKS owes its success & future to those who champion this Music. I am deeply appreciative. If you have a friend or know of another director who you think should be a STORM Director, please have him or her contact the STORMLAB. That person will go onto the mailing list receive a STORM Pack. Thanks so much and Godspeed in all that you do.