Fight or Flight (2022)

Wind Ensemble | ca. 5' | grade 3.5

Physical Score + Digital Parts (PDF): $100

Physical Score Only: $20

Please contact music.ryanfillinger@gmail.com to purchase.

Program Note

The Fight or Flight response is defined as a psychological response triggered when one is faced with a danger or threat. It's a natural reaction which releases hormones that prepares the body to either stay and confront, or to flee. In other words, it is our most primal and basic survival instinct.

I pondered how I could capture such a concept with music, so that it was thrilling and exciting as well as perceivable and easy to grasp. Eventually, I realized two main motifs, one bold and striking in tone to represent the “fight” response, and the other urgent and relentless to represent the “flight” response. These two motifs were then given their own sections within an arc-shaped form, creating a “full-circle” narrative feel that builds tension until the very end. The resulting work is Fight or Flight, a piece filled with energy, excitement, and high stakes that is sure to be a riveting experience for performers and audiences alike.