Prof. Kirk O’Riordan honors Bicentennial with new composition

By Bryan Hay 

Over the years, Kirk O’Riordan has arranged and composed music specifically for Commencement. But sensing the enormity of the Bicentennial, he was inspired to create a unique, thematically derivative work commemorating this moment in time.

His “Two Hundred Moments” received its premiere by the Commencement Band as part of the prelude performed at the graduation ceremony, May 23. A single movement work for band, three-and-a-half minutes in duration and containing exactly 200 measures, the work is based on fragments of the alma mater and the College’s fight song, “On, Lafayette!”

Prof. Kirk O’Riordan’s Bicentennial composition, “Two Hundred Moments, ” is based on fragments of the alma mater and the College’s fight song. | Photo by JaQuan Alston

O’Riordan, associate professor of music and director of bands, says it’s a departure from his usual compositional sound world, which tends to revolve around Debussy-inspired minimalism. In “Two Hundred Moments,” he draws on a language similar in style to that of Samuel Barber, more conventional and romantic in its tonality.

Starting out in the heroic key of E flat major, the work opens with a brass fanfare and wind flourishes and changes keys 10 times, with the timpani playing “On, Lafayette!” over the alma mater. The title reflects the Bicentennial motto: Lafayette, this is our moment.

“I wanted to do something that combined elements of the fight song and the alma mater,” O’Riordan adds. “I usually don’t predetermine the number of measures in a piece, but a goal of 200 measures was appropriate for the Bicentennial. This time was a little bit tricky to crank out a three-part form into those 200 measures and still get it to balance and achieve correct proportions. And I wanted to explore a range of emotions as well. That’s a lot to do in a short amount of time.”

Welcoming families, faculty, and graduates at the opening of the Commencement exercises, Alex Hendrickson, director of religious and spiritual life and College chaplain, acknowledged O’Riordan’s composition and congratulated him for his artistic efforts.

“The piece seeks to capture the collective energy of reflection, pride, and anticipation of the future,” Hendrickson told the audience. “This composition mirrors the duality of the College’s history and its aspirations for the next two centuries.”

Flutist Brian Morris ’27 contemplates the power and emotions at every Commencement playing in the band, all of which were heightened this year with O’Riordan’s new composition.

“After seeing Commencement three times, it really feels like one of those moments where everything around you freezes,” says Morris, who’s majoring in chemical engineering and music. “Regardless of the rest of the world, everyone is there to celebrate the seniors graduating. It feels like those moments are very few and far between, so I notice it with every Commencement.”

“Two Hundred Moments” was a fitting addition to the ceremony, he said.

“Something about the entire ceremony felt more powerful compared to previous years,” Morris says. “Beyond the reminder that I’m graduating in a year, there were a lot of people in the Class of 2026 who defined a large portion of my time at Lafayette. My senior year is going to feel weird without them, but I’ve come to think of it as a change for the better.

“With Commencement being the last time I will see most of the Class of 2026, performing ‘Two Hundred Moments’ felt symbolic of moving past life at Lafayette,” Morris adds. “The memories from Lafayette are always there, but eventually you have to move on into the greater unknown. I think having this epiphany was perfect moving into senior year, and I feel like ‘Two Hundred Moments’ perfectly encapsulated that.”

Julia Sealing ’27, alto saxophone, majoring in neuroscience and music, says “Two Hundred Moments” was a special way to celebrate Lafayette’s Bicentennial during Commencement.

“As a three-year member of the pep band, I have played both the alma mater and the fight song too many times to count,” she says. “Both songs are well known and appreciated by the Lafayette community as a whole, so it only seems appropriate that they should play a role in celebrating 200 years.

“Playing ‘Two Hundred Moments’ at Commencement was a great way to honor Lafayette’s history, its athletics, and the Music Department all at once,” she notes. “I have always enjoyed being involved in the Commencement band because I love playing a part in a day that is so important to so many people. I believe the addition of this piece this year only made it more memorable.”

O’Riordan appreciates the importance of creating lasting, meaningful memories at Commencement and already has established a tradition of composing and arranging music to honor the occasion.

Kirk O’Riordan, associate professor of music and director of bands, leads the Commencement Band on May 23. “Commencement is all about making sure everything is working,” he says. | Photo by Rick Smith

His collection of Lafayette Commencement music includes the faculty procession derived from the popular “Djembe Djam” for percussion, which he dedicated to J. Larry Stockton, music professor emeritus. He plans to add “Two Hundred Moments” to the annual Commencement lineup and program it next semester with the Concert Band.

“Commencement is all about making sure everything is working, making sure things get timed properly for the faculty procession,” he says. “The entire Lafayette world is there, and it’s important that it goes well, because all the families out there have earned a good Commencement ceremony.

“They’ve made an investment to have their students go here, and at the end of the journey, we want to program music that captures the moments,” O’Riordan adds. “I was honored to create and conduct this piece for our Bicentennial and bring more homegrown Lafayette themes to Commencement.”