Second Wind
Second Wind - Randall Standridge
Part of Randall Standridge’s unBroken Project, Second Wind is a high-energy Grade 4.5 work for advanced ensembles that explores the idea of rediscovering inspiration after a period of personal struggle. Written at a single, driving tempo, the piece reflects the momentum and clarity that come with finding renewed purpose.
Syncopated rhythms, vibrant orchestral scoring, and a symphonic pops sensibility combine to create a work that is both technically demanding and emotionally direct. Bold, relentless, and forward-moving, Second Wind is a powerful choice for concert or festival performance.
Program Notes
In 2025, I experienced one of the longest depressive episodes of my adult life.
Most of my episodes last a few days. Sometimes a week. This one lasted five months.
During that time, things slowly began to unravel. My energy disappeared. My enthusiasm faded. My physical health declined. My relationships suffered. And perhaps most frightening of all, my ability to write music seemed to vanish.
For a while, I wasn’t sure it would come back.
Because when something like that goes away, you begin to wonder if it is gone for good.
But eventually, something shifted.
Not all at once. Not dramatically. But gradually, I began to feel small pieces of myself returning. The desire to create. The ability to focus. The energy to move forward. It wasn’t the same as before. In some ways, it still isn’t. But it was something new.
A second wind.
Second Wind is a musical reflection of that process. Built around the “Good Mental Health” motive from my unBroken Project, the piece unfolds at a single, steady tempo. It begins with rhythmic, syncopated ideas that feel unsettled and searching, before giving way to a more melodic, soaring statement. At the midpoint, the music shifts abruptly into a driving groove section. This moment represents the turning point, when energy begins to return, and forward motion becomes possible again. From there, the piece continues to build, not as a return to what was, but as a step into what is next.
This work is part of my unBroken Project, an ongoing series of pieces that explore mental and emotional health through music.This piece was more than a commission. It was therapy. And more importantly, it was a reminder.
If you ever feel lost, exhausted, or unsure of what’s next, just remember there’s something waiting.
A second wind.
All you have to do is lift your arms, look to the sky, and fly.
Peace, Love, and Music - Randall
Second Wind was commissioned by the New York State Band Directors’ Association in celebration of a renewed commitment to commissioning new works for concert band. Along with this organization, the following schools and directors were part of the commissioning consortium for this work:
DirectorEnsemble
Paul ConefryCenter Moriches High School
Allison ChipmanChurchville-Chili High School
Richard GossLancaster High School
Rich WilliamsMahopac High School
Jackie KovacsMaine-Endwell High School
Scott CieslaOswego High School
Chris JabotSolvay High School
Hilary BoyerSouth Colonie High School
Erin AlthenSyracuse Youth Wind Symphony
Greg BorszWest Genesee High School
Cory RileyWest Hills High School
Bradley MorrisonYouth Wind Ensemble of Westchester
Scott BeanOrchard Park High School
Dave AbramsFarmingdale High School
Jennifer GreeneBinghamton University Mike VolpeStarpoint High School