I often describe my compositions as a personal musical journal. This piece fits the mold perfectly. To anyone who performs or hears “American Elegy”: please embrace this composition as the soundtrack to my experiences and thoughts about President Jimmy Carter, the centenarian; the former President of the United States of America.

The longest living United States President passed away on 29 December 2024 at the age of 100.I was not even a year old when President Carter was sworn in as America’s 39^th president on 20 January 1977.By the end of his term in 1981, I had not yet started Kindergarten. During my elementary school years, a local company provided our classrooms with giant calendars that featured portraits of all the U.S. Presidents and their terms of service. At the end of 1984, I begged my teacher to give me the empty calendar poster to hang up by my bed. Mrs. Black kindly obliged. The 40 men (at the time) who had occupied the most powerful position in the world deservedly captured much of my time as I took in what I could from the patriotic poster. I even collected and glued postage stamps that featured Presidents by their portraits on the poster.

Jumping years later, on an airplane to Atlanta, Georgia in 1992, a VIP caused quite a stir upon boarding. President Carter (well beyond his years of politicking) walked down the aisle and shook everyone’s hand with genuine kindness. I was traveling with a group of approximately 50 “People to People” Student Ambassadors, ultimately heading to Russia, as young representatives of the United States of America. Kicking off that journey by shaking hands with the former president could not have been more perfectly planned!

Although I do not agree with all the decisions or policies of any president, past or present, my respect for the office would prompt me to compose an elegy or tribute for any one of them. Serving as a trumpeter in the United States Air Force Bands at the time of President Carter’s passing, I was stationed in Tokyo, Japan. My commanding officer asked if, with my prolific habit of composing music, I would be writing a tribute to the recently deceased former president. That planted a seed. Another fellow musician, TSgt Ian O’Beirne, watered the seed by suggesting that I do so as part of a big band local tour throughout the Tokyo region in April 2025.With the second prompt and personal experience with Mr. Carter, I embraced the opportunity. Since brass quintet is my preferred medium, this version was completed first. It was quickly expanded and adapted to the brass sections of a big band: four trumpets and four trombones (Op. 181-B).TSgt O’Beirne added a full big band tribute to follow mine in the concerts. They were effective and moving, even for Japanese audiences who know little about past U.S. Presidents but appreciate the gesture of honoring historical figures from other cultures. It was well received, and a moving addition to the concerts.

One final note: during the turbulent age in which this piece was composed, politics were as divisive as ever. This work was not intended to promote or show allegiance to any party or practice or policy, but rather to honor one specific man who did the best he could while holding the magnificent office of the President of the United States.