Twenty years have passed since the world watched in horror the events surrounding the terrorist attack on the two towers of the World Trade Center. Often overlooked, however, is the fact that two other planes were involved: one to attack the Pentagon, the fourth plane was probably intended to hit a government building in Washington, D.C., but was brought down by the hijackers’ pilot near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after fighting with passengers.
Several composers have dealt directly with the subject matter, while other works have been linked to the assassination and have commemorated the tragedy ever since. “Only Time” by singer Enya is one such piece. The song is the first single from her fifth studio album “A Day Without Rain” and was released on 3 November 2000. Only Time only achieved widespread fame after it was used as background music for the television broadcasts of the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001. The Welsh composer Karl Jenkins dedicated his signature mass “The Armed Man” to the victims of the Kosovo War of 1998 and 1999. More recently, his work has also been associated with the commemoration of the events of the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.
Ben Haemhouts composed a poignant choral dedicated primarily to the innocent victims of the terrorist attack. “Flight of Valor” is specifically dedicated to United Airlines Flight 93, one of the four planes hijacked on September 11, 2001, to be used in the planned terrorist attack in Washington, D.C.. The plane crashed due to a passenger revolt near Shanksville, Pennsylvania. All 44 people on board died.
The “March for Patriot Day” by John O’Reilly commemorates the people who died in the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. This march, which was actually written on Patriot Day 2011, is the perfect instrument for beginning band members to express their patriotism. Using only the first seven notes taught in most beginner’s textbooks, it builds rhythmic interest through various combinations of repeated-pitch eighth-note patterns.
Jerry Brubacker commemorates the victims of terror with his composition “Thine Alabaster Cities Gleam“. The piece, however, is reserved for high school orchestras only. “Triumphant Spirit” by Timothy R. Johnson is again more dedicated to those involved in the rescue efforts after the attacks on 11 September 2001.
Finally, there is also the film “World Trade Center“, which depicts the events surrounding the attack. The music for the film was written by Craig Armstrong and is available in an arrangement by Frank Bernaerts.
All works, concerning 9/11., can be found here.