You can now listen and get ALL of your STORMWORKS Music on "TRACKS" in the Menu above!

Listen on SPOTIFY:
 
 “Holy WOWOWOWOWWWWWWW.  THAT SOUND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  And that MUSIC!!!!!  And that PICTURE it produces in my brain and my Self...  Bravo!!!!!!  Amazing!!!!” Amy J. Steiner, Director of Bands, Hutchinson Central Technical High School

“Seriously, I am barren of superlatives to describe my praise. Incredibly beautiful and powerful.”  Jonathan Heap, Director

“I don’t know how he does it, but the amazing Stephen Melillo has outdone himself once again in STORMWORKS Chapter 55. Virtuosic composing at its very best!”  Grammy Winner, Paul Avgerinos

“Chapter 55: Way of the Wanderer is by FAR the MOST expressive,  impressive, and dynamic Music ever written this century. It is a journey of the soul like none other and Stephen Melillo has once again given us a glimpse of the IMPOSSIBLE by making it POSSIBLE. Nothing can come close to this recording or set of Music unless he writes another Chapter.”  Walter Avellaneda, Conductor

"The latest chapter of Composer Stephen Melillo’s extraordinary musical output is his best to date .  Chapter 55: Way of the Wanderer, brings the performers/audience/listeners on an unparalleled journey from the darkest corners of their souls (In the Darkest Darkness) to the height of jubilation (Ark of the Covenant).  His powerful Symphony IIII will most definitely establish him as a leading symphonist of this generation and beyond.  Melillo’s real, meaningful, and undeniably emotional music will continue to be a staple of my curriculum/repertoire.” Louis Vitello, Conductor

“I am always ”knighted” after listening to your compositions and how you continually ELEVATE the world of musical depth and expression! BRAVO!”  David Knott, Director of the Mozart and Friends Festival Orchestra, Founder of the Central PA Wind Conductors Society

“Steve, MY First impression? Holy Holy HOLY LORD!!!!  Outstanding renderings of your outstanding music!  I WILL NEED TIME TO ABSORB ALL OF THIS!" Tom Davis, Rochester Institute of Technology

“An absolute massive creation!!! I so much miss conducting your masterworks… always receiving a standing ovation!! As I listen to your creations I enter into another world of joy, sadness, peace, and love that penetrates my soul. Thank you for sharing. May God bless you with love for creating such beautiful music for everyone to enjoy and appreciate.” Ed Lisk, Conductor

“I admire you and the results of your great and hard work. Please have my compliments as always.  You are a composer who still has a human heart you are not afraid to open to the world!  I am getting to be one of your leading advocates!”  Laszlo Marosi, Conductor

“What can I say… kind of speechless about your so intense speaking music.  The variety of your music, but always in your very personal language, seems infinite. The depth of your musical expression reaches the hearts of the audience immediately. I can tell you, as somebody who performed your music for years.  Congrats to the composer, the band, the conductor und the producer! Another world-connecting event, caused by a high talented and precious man. Liebe Grüße” Jochen Lorenz, Conductor

“This is music of power, emotion, and destiny all crafted with the most fantastic world class artistry that has come to be expected of Melillo's art!  The ideas and breadth of contrast are awesome, not to mention the superb orchestration. Furthermore, the recording is an absolute SONIC SPECTACLE. The combination of the fantastic Das Musikkorps der Bundeswehr, conducted by Christoph Scheibling, and the chorus coupled with the out of this world recording by Roland Stuppin provide the utmost clarity to Melillo’s music. No doubt your seating arrangement for the ensemble made all this happen so much the better!!!  EVERYONE NEEDS TO HEAR THIS ALBUM!!!!” Aldo Rafael Forte, Composer

“An undoubtable, distinctive style, sound, and message you are always able to put in notes on simple paper.  Your music catches me, fascinates my ears and is always thrilling, exciting and touches my mind very deep.  Then Symphony IIII.  Great thing!!! Music that pushes you away in new atmospheres you have never known before. Being part of the music in such moments… I can only say thank you, Steve,  I’ve never been in such a world with my feelings.  Listening to your music is a great thing for me, playing it with an orchestra fulfills me, conducting it pushes me away…  and therefore you can be sure that I will spread my enthusiasm for your music as well as I can.  Ganz liebe Grüße!” Max Plank, Conductor

Click Here to View Perusal Score

Please look for "In the Darkest Darkness" in STORMFILMS.  

Here too is a video made of the Premiere, with Jens Schróer conducting.

Words from Peter Kleine Schaars, Conductor of The Marine band of the Royal Netherlands Navy, sum it best.

"In our little country, there is a big knowing that many men and women once fought for our freedom! Even after 70 years and 3 generations later the veterans are in our hearts with lots of respect. So when the composer Stephen Melillo asked our Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy to make a recording of the composition "Forever Strong, a Salute to the USS Indianapolis," and dedicated to the veterans of the USS Indianapolis I didn't have to think long about that question. The answer was... of course! It will be a privilege to honor these men and their families! On the last Saturday of June, we annually honor our veterans by a concert in the Parliament House and with a big parade in our government city, The Hague. We honor you with this recording and thank all of you veterans for the great efforts and sacrifices you have made to give us back our freedom! God bless you all." Major Peter Kleine Schaars, Music Director of the MBRNN

11 September:
What better date to compress the many emotions attributed to the Ordeal, the Sacrifice, the Courage, the massive Heroism, the Hope-filled Future. These are the many layers, and more in this 3:17 Salute to the USS INDIANAPOLIS. We do not pay tribute to "instruments of war," but rather to the undying will to persevere, to endure for the sake of others, to emerge from the Depths of Darkness and Despair and become a shining Light for others, many of whom have yet to be born. You see? a "Storm" work! Godspeed!

Be sure to check out my arrangement of ETERNAL FATHER, also written for the occasion of the USS Indy 70th Reunion.

Get the DVD with the order form above.

Streaming Download at AMAZON

EXCERPTS

https://vimeo.com/133759682

33:17 Track on Soundcloud

In the 70th anniversary of the USS Indianapolis Story, piece #1103 in 33:17 by © STEPHEN MELILLO IGNA 30 July 1945-2015 was composed.

The "Visually Scored" Documentary Film has accompanying PDFs for you.  Look for Digital Libretti under STORMAficionados.  Scroll down until you see all of the accompanying FOREVER STRONG PDFs.

“Sometimes, our greatest victory emerges from the battle we never wanted to fight.” (from piece #844, composed in 1997)

The 33:17 Musical Work (because there were 317 Survivors) is rendered and conducted by the following 216 Musicians, and with great thanks:

70 Musicians of the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Peter Kleine Schaars, Conductor
54 Musicians of the Dutch Royal Military Band, Stephen Melillo, Conductor
62 Musicians of the Rundfunk Blasorchester Leipzig, Stephen Melillo, Conductor
26 Singers of the The San Diego Jewish Men’s Choir, Ruth Weber, Conductor

Adelmo Guidarelli, who sings an original arrangement of “Eternal Father.”

Recorded by Lex van Diepen, Chorus by Dan Abernathy

“To the families of those Lost at Sea, to the Survivors of the USS Indianapolis CA-35 , to their families, friends and all who support them, and to those currently serving in the Defense of Freedom… The USS Indianapolis and 880 of her crew never did physically return to the Golden Gate... the one here that is. In Heaven and in our Hearts, the ship and her crew will always be coming home to loving, waiting arms.  With that Message and in that Purpose, this work is lovingly offered.” Godspeed!  Stephen Melillo

Rupam Sarmah, Composer & Producer

“Steve, your brilliant musical composition crafted around the heart wrenching story of the USS Indianapolis far exceeds any awards. Your creative work is a gift to this world. It takes us through a journey of emotions and love in our hearts that will remain forever strong for the lost families, friends, supporters and survivors who dedicated their lives for our country. This is a masterpiece beyond measures!

From Survivor Edgar Harrell, aboard the Indy on 30 July 1945

"Good Evening My Friend Stephen; I had a chance to hear "Forever Strong," waiting for my wife Ola to get some time to hear and watch again with me. Her first comments were, "Fantastic, yes super special. I could identify the story from the variations of the music. The music tells the seriousness of the Indy disaster."

Great Music to remember the greatest tragedy at sea in the history of the US Navy, about a great ship, the sinking of the USS Indianapolis.  National Geographic is doing an extensive or 4-1/2 hour special interview with me concerning my story and book "Out of the Depths." Needless to say that I was already much into the Indy tragedy plus my own personal trauma of my experience when I began to hear the music on "Forever Strong." Hearing the music and watching, brought out much reflection and recollection of those 4-1/2 days of terror.  National Geographic is determined to locate the Indy. If and when they do locate the Indianapolis, then some six of we Survivors will be flown to Guam and from there delivered to the Indy burial site. A special Memorial service of Honor will be given in dedication, My son and I have been asked to join.

"Forever Strong" would be great to hear at the memorial site. Stephen, we wish you a sense of honor as you help us in our dismal reflections of yester-year.

God Bless, Semper Fi," Edgar Harrell - USMC, Survivor USS Indianapolis

Accolades

AEONE, Artiste & Composer

“I don't even know where to begin as this is such a magnificent piece of music on so many levels and for so many reasons. Your writing was epic, dramatic, moving, loving, holy and incredibly beautiful with an underlying majestic quality and in spite of the horrors that were part of this story - left me with a sense of something noble in my heart. It was the nobleness of all these men who were lost, those who survived, those who saved them and indeed, for the great ship itself.  I loved your score and the instrumentation and how it was tremendously dynamic and hit so perfectly with the picture early on with the war scenes and the shifting as the ship went down and the waiting - the choices of instruments and use of sound, how you used the other-worldly synths and sound design in with the score - plus simple use of voices/choir. I also appreciated how it never went over the top with pomp and ceremony or emotion but, was steady and true and just beautifully and musically written. By the time it got to the very simply sung but, moving rendition of "For Those in Peril on the Sea" I literally sat with tears pouring down my face and simply could not stop.  This is glorious music played from the heart and written from a place of such deep spirit. Thank you so much Stephen - your music and your gift is great and indeed the gift of it, is beyond measure.” 

Sarah Partridge, Vocalist & Composer

“I am listening to FOREVER STRONG right now and am moved to tears. The music is so powerful... meaningful, full of passion. Beautifully orchestrated. The mixture of the orchestra, voice, and narration fit perfectly and seamlessly. An incredible story told through music… and rightly so. This SHOULD absolutely be an album of the year!”

Jeff Silverman, Composer, Music Editor & Producer

“OMG! I'm listening to your incredible music score and after reading what is such a heart wrenching story and admirable tribute, I am spellbound and AM SO moved. SO visual. Great to have some spoken word / story to go with it but the music REALLY stands on it's own.  I love the use of the classical elements with sound design. VERY effective in the very ominous parts. Your ability to capture such a high level of energy and power, drama and suspense with the music is stellar! And the moods... You've created a plethora of emotions that are clearly defined, felt and heard.  I have much more to say but had to reach out and say how impressed I am with your work and all involved and I will be certainly be supporting you!!! Warmest," 

Ginny Carr, Composer, Arranger, Vocalist

"WOW! I have just listened to "Forever Strong," and I am spellbound. You are a composer's composer, and that work is nothing short of magnificent. It reached me on so many levels. As a composer/arranger myself and someone who writes for combined vocal-instrumental ensembles, I am in awe of the musicianship behind every aspect of it, from genesis to composition to execution. Thrilling and hauntingly beautiful."

Peter Spero, Composer & Producer

“Steve, just freaking incredible.  Sooooo moving and an event that needed to be expressed in this way.  I say this because so many important moments in our lives as a nation, and in history, are expressed in full length films, which are great too but not always consumable for everyone, and 5 second remembrances on network news.  Your vision of remembering this event was simply amazing, very much like a painting for me, each brush stoke contributing to a masterpiece.  The careful use of FX was nicely done brother, right moment, right passage, really really great work. I gotta say, after I finished listening and watching your film version, I was emotionally drained by the story, the drama, the reality, and the way you guided us through the events, and exhilarated by the shear raw emotional edge, using the entire emotional spectrum.  When the struggling warriors who survived were finally rescued, small tear man, gotta admit it.  The music was just astounding all around but my favorite moments were 12:26 SOS sound, into 12:39 haunting strings, 12:46 haunting vocal choice which faded into wind.  14:24 when the words of Paul J Murphy were read, sooooo freaking moving!!!  Starting at 20:36 when the discovery and the rescue sequence started, this was an incredible sequence that brought me out of the intense worry and concern emotions into the light of elation and thrilling relief that at least some were found and rescued.  Well, I’m emotionally drained right now so thank you so much for your artistry and you creation, incredible work man!!!” 

Madi Das, Composer & Producer

"I have been moved and inspired by this beautiful piece of music from Stephen Melillo. Both an important historical tribute and an amazing achievement in international collaboration, the work is expansive and intimate, emotional and powerful, and ultimately a befitting memorial to the brave Souls of the USS Indianapolis."

Related works:

Kakehashi: THAT WE MIGHT LIVE (excerpt at Vimeo)