Alpine resident and composer Jeff Lippencott stepped into the SVI Radio studio on Tuesday, April 14 to discuss composing the State of Wyoming’s theme for the America 250 celebration. The theme was debuted in a live performance by the Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, but is not yet available online.

(0:00) Another live in studio guest interview this morning (0:03) here on the Weekday Wake Up. (0:04) Composer Jeff Lippincott is on the air today (0:08) and Jeff has composed the theme song (0:11) for Wyoming’s America 250 celebration this year. (0:15) Jeff, we appreciate you stepping back in studio.

(0:17) We had you on last year. (0:19) Remind our listeners what you’ve done in your career (0:22) as a composer because for those that maybe don’t remember (0:25) or missed that initial interview, (0:27) you’ve done just about all that can be done (0:29) as a composer, right? (0:30) Thanks for having me, Duke. (0:32) Yeah, I’ve had a good career in Hollywood.

(0:36) Currently, my longest running show is Shark Tank (0:39) but I’ve done music for American Idol, Biggest Loser, (0:43) probably 50 to 80 television shows. (0:47) Currently, The Bachelor and some other things. (0:50) So no, it’s been a great run (0:52) and really appreciate the career and lifestyle (0:58) that that’s given me.

(0:59) To be able to even live here in Lincoln County (1:01) and be away from that is even better. (1:05) Here, here, yeah. (1:06) You know, in addition to writing those theme songs (1:08) for Hollywood, you’re also a classical composer, right? (1:12) You’ve done a lot of onstage classical writing and composing.

(1:16) Correct, correct. (1:17) And I was fortunate enough to team up (1:19) with the Cheyenne Symphony recently (1:22) as composer in residence. (1:23) So this past year, I’ve been composer in residence there (1:25) and I’ve done a couple other works (1:26) as well as this 250th piece (1:28) which we just premiered this past Saturday.

(1:32) Let’s talk about it. (1:33) So it’s not available online yet, from what I understand. (1:35) Not yet, yeah, I was checking this morning.

(1:37) It’s not available yet. (1:38) But it was unveiled just over this past weekend in Cheyenne. (1:42) It was, just we had a great premiere (1:44) with the orchestra, University of Wyoming Chorale.

(1:49) So had everybody, it was all sort of an all skate (1:52) for Wyoming and it was a wonderful success. (1:56) It was well-received and we’re really looking forward (1:59) to the performance on the Capitol steps (2:02) on the 4th of July with the whole crew. (2:05) Perfect, well, we’re looking forward (2:06) to when it becomes available (2:07) so we can take a listen as well.

(2:09) And it’s kind of cool to have a Lincoln County resident (2:12) knowing that, man, you live here, (2:15) you’re a friend and neighbor and you wrote this piece. (2:17) That’s pretty unique, I think, for us. (2:20) Not something that’s gonna happen very often.

(2:22) Well, no, it’s a unique piece (2:25) and it was a unique commission. (2:27) You don’t get these opportunities very often. (2:29) And actually, next Tuesday, I’m off to Nashville (2:32) to record Gary Sinise, the actor, (2:35) to record the narrations for the record.

(2:37) So we’re getting really close on the recorded product. (2:40) It’s taking a little longer than we thought (2:42) to get all the ducks in a row, (2:43) the mix, the mastering and everything. (2:45) But we’re really close and I’ll be sure to tell you (2:49) when it’s available.

(2:51) Absolutely, so Jeff, walk us through the process. (2:53) What goes into creating a production like this (2:57) from very start concept ideas (3:00) to the complete recorded produced product? (3:02) Right, I think the most important part of this process (3:05) was finding the right texts for the choral (3:08) and finding the right narrative settings. (3:10) So I dug back into the annals of history (3:14) and dug out an old poem by Samuel Adams.

(3:17) He not only made beer, but he was a poet of some sort. (3:20) And so I used the structure of that poem, (3:24) of this one particular poem, (3:26) to use for the structure of the lyrical content. (3:29) And then I married that with the narrative, (3:31) which is there’s a narration that opens in the first movement (3:34) and a narration that opens the third movement.

(3:36) And the second movement is the choral part, (3:38) which is the Samuel Adams texts. (3:40) And the narration comes from John Quincy Adams in 1821, (3:44) the 45th anniversary celebrations (3:47) of the Declaration of Independence at that time. (3:49) And I use that narrative to sort of tie together, (3:51) to bridge together the first movement (3:53) and the third movement with that second movement (3:54) of the Samuel Adams texts, which a little tricky, (3:57) but as long as you stay inside the right church, (4:02) you can put those pews together in the right order (4:04) to make it all work, you know what I mean? (4:06) Yeah, absolutely.

(4:07) Now, of course, this is specific for the state of Wyoming. (4:10) And so how would you approach this for Wyoming (4:14) as opposed to maybe another state? (4:16) What is unique to Wyoming in this piece? (4:18) Well, so, you know, there’s obviously (4:20) the ruggedness of Wyoming. (4:23) And, you know, when you look back at this timeframe (4:26) between 1776 and 1821, (4:31) which was where the John Quincy Adams texts come from, (4:34) this was a time of exploration.

(4:37) This is Jim Bridger out here in the mountains. (4:39) This is the move west. (4:41) And so the melodies that I’ve tried to write, (4:46) you know, for this piece were, in my mind, (4:50) an Americana sort of westward feel type of melodic content.

(4:55) And marrying that with the lyrics (4:57) and marrying that with the orchestra (4:59) is one of those things that I felt like made it hone in on (5:04) to the Wyoming story of the Western frontier. (5:09) Absolutely. (5:10) So tell us more about the premiere on Saturday (5:13) and what all goes into that.

(5:15) I mean, the Cheyenne Symphony and everybody involved (5:19) and how did that all come together? (5:20) Well, it was a big deal (5:22) because not only did we have the symphony, (5:25) which is one component, (5:27) then we had the combined choirs (5:28) of the University of Wyoming (5:30) and the local chorale in Cheyenne. (5:33) And we had a narrator. (5:35) So I had underscored for the narrator.

(5:38) So the timing of that when you’re conducting (5:40) and you have a narration that’s gotta be set (5:42) in a time spot of about, (5:43) I think the opening narration’s a minute one. (5:48) And then I think the narration in the third movement (5:50) is about 57 seconds. (5:53) But so conducting with the narrator here, (5:55) the choir’s behind me and we had a ghost conductor, (5:58) Sir William, the music director.

(5:59) He was behind me, ghost conducting the choir (6:02) because the choir couldn’t see me (6:03) because the stage had limitations as far as the size goes. (6:06) So it was a little bit of a, (6:08) I wouldn’t say herding cats, (6:10) but it was a production, we stretched, (6:13) but it worked perfectly. (6:14) It came off perfectly.

(6:16) I couldn’t have been happier with the performance. (6:18) That’s gotta be a pretty amazing feeling (6:20) to see all the work from start to finish (6:23) kind of come together. (6:24) What was that moment like for you when you were able to, (6:26) I shouldn’t say just sit back and relax (6:28) because I know that’s not what you were doing, (6:30) but to be able to see it all come together live on stage? (6:35) Well, it’s fabulous.

(6:37) And what makes it even more special (6:39) was I’m a composer, right? (6:41) It’s one thing to go up there and conduct Beethoven, (6:45) which is fabulous. (6:46) But when the composer gets to stand there (6:49) and finally hear what’s been in his head for 10 years (6:53) or however long it’s been writing (6:56) and to hear it come together (6:57) and hear the audience’s response, (7:00) I mean, that for me was, (7:01) the audience response says everything to me. (7:03) It’s one thing for me to believe in the work and the idea, (7:06) but it’s another to get that response from the audience (7:08) and go, okay, wow, it actually does touch people.

(7:12) That’s special for me. (7:14) So what is the plan? (7:16) You mentioned that it’ll continue to be performed (7:19) on July 4th at the Capitol. (7:21) Correct.

(7:21) What else is this going to be used for (7:23) and how will it be used by the state (7:25) during the course of the America 250? (7:27) Well, our hope is that the pullout section, (7:31) which I created this in three movements, (7:33) that middle movement with choir (7:34) is easily done for high school. (7:37) It’s easily done with local choirs. (7:41) Even churches could pull it off.

(7:43) So we’re hoping to like between now (7:45) and the next couple of weeks, (7:47) really try to make some contacts with this piece (7:50) and try to get people in the loop on what it is. (7:53) It is a little bit of a, not a setback, (7:56) but a little bit of a disappointment (7:57) that the recording isn’t available for people to listen to (7:59) because if they really could hear what we did, (8:03) it would be much easier to get on board. (8:06) And I understand that the mix process (8:09) has taken a little bit of a while, (8:10) but I was hoping to have it done by now.

(8:12) Yeah, yeah, certainly. (8:13) So we’ll, of course, let our listeners know (8:15) when it is done and completed and pass it along. (8:18) Jeff Lippincott and studio composer, (8:19) and he’s put together the America 250 theme (8:23) this year for the state of Wyoming.

(8:25) Jeff, appreciate your time and your insight into this. (8:28) Anything else about writing this theme (8:30) and producing it that you’d like to mention today? (8:32) You know, it’s just been a privilege. (8:34) You know, I thank the state of Wyoming.

(8:37) I know there’s a grant in here somewhere, (8:39) and I know the Cheyenne Symphony (8:42) for believing in this idea, (8:44) and the University of Wyoming (8:46) for wanting to be involved with the choir. (8:48) It’s just been a privilege to give something (8:50) to my home state, so. (8:53) Well, appreciate your time in studio.

(8:54) And by the way, you’re still welcome (8:56) to compose my theme song anytime. (8:58) I know, I know. (8:59) That offer’s still out there, isn’t it? (9:01) I forgot.

(9:02) I’ve been a little busy with this. (9:03) Oh yeah, come on now. (9:05) Jeff Lippincott this morning, (9:07) composer that lives right here in Lincoln County (9:09) in the Star Valley area, (9:11) and the mastermind behind Wyoming’s America 250 theme.

(9:15) It’s all part of the weekday wake up this morning (9:16) on SVI Radio.