To The Red And Blue by Mo Longo

Commissioned by James Leslie and the University of Dayton Percussion Ensemble, To the Red and Blue is a spirited and uplifting addition to your program. A crowd-pleasing opener or closer, this piece combines bluesy melodies with syncopated rhythmic grooves. Flexible instrumentation allows the addition of multiple players as desired.

As a proud alum of the University of Dayton and reflecting upon Mo’s time there, the thought that kept coming to mind was community. They wanted this piece to begin with a fanfare and embody a sense of celebration: not only for the opening of a new performing arts center, but also of what it means to be part of a larger community.

In writing this piece, Mo took musical inspiration from stand tunes, cadences, and solos that were prominent during their time at UD, while also drawing ideas from the UD Anthem itself, of which the final lyrics became the title of this piece, To the Red and Blue.

Mo’s hope is that, whether Dayton Flyers or not, the musicians who come together to play this piece can do so in celebrating the spirit of their own communities. Here’s to making music together!

To the Red and Blue was commissioned by James Leslie and the University of Dayton Percussion Ensemble to commemorate their first concert in the new UD Roger Glass Center for the Arts. Go Dayton Flyers!