Minnesota Varsity Showcase Composer: Reid Spreiter

Hometown: Kasson, Minn.

Composition: The Burning Signals

Tell us about the piece you submitted to Minnesota Varsity.

The piece I composed is titled "The Burning Signals." When I first started composing, I imagined a widespread tribe in an ancient, snowy land inhabited with many monsters. The only way settlements could communicate was by using signals of fire. The start of the piece symbolizes a tribesman, noticing a fire signal and preparing for a fight with the monsters of the land. Measure markers B, D, and G all signify the start of a monster battle in different settlements around the area that are sending a burning signal to other settlements in hopes of better preparing them for the monster attack to come. Measure markers A, A1, C, E, and E1 signify different tribes noticing burning signals off in the distance and preparing for the monster attacks. At Measure marker F, the word Acceso appears. This word means ignited, or on fire. This word is here to signify the last burning signal lighted. This signal is the only one that can notify the tribes' capital of the monsters yet to come. This signal will potentially save the tribe from complete extinction. The end of the piece starts slow and accelerates, depicting the monsters converging on the capital. The last measure of the piece ends abruptly. The tribe may have won, or they may have been destroyed. That is up to the listener to decide.