Fantayyzia 1987

for concert band, Grade 5

Commissioned by Eric Smedley and the Indiana University Bands
Co-Commissioned by:

Matthew Smith and the University of Kansas Bands
Michael Flanigan and the Indiana Wesleyan Bands
Jon Conrad and the McLennan Community College Bands
Jason Caslor and the University of Arizona Bands
Joshua Kearney and the University of Nebraska at Omaha Bands
Steven Ward and the Abilene Christian University Bands
Tim Oliver and the University of Mississippi Bands
Daniel Brecht-Haddad and the Stephen F. Austin University Bands
Phil Vallejo and the Marshall University Bands
Vu Nguyen and the University of the Pacific Bands

duration: 10 minutes
Will premier on February 18th, 2026 by Eric Smedley and the Indiana University Symphonic Band in Bloomington, IN

During the 1987 Hold Your Fire tour, drummer Neil Peart of the band Rush crafted a masterpiece of drumming.  Woven into their famous instrumental YYZ, Neil performed a solo showcasing his amazing inventiveness, technique, showmanship and compositional prowess. Their 1988 live album A Show of Hands immortalized this great moment in music.

Fantayyzia 1987 is an exciting and engaging new piece for grade 5 concert band. In it, I explore, expand and explode these rhythmic and melodic ideas from Neil Peart’s iconic solo.  The piece is full of contrapuntal and melodic writing for the winds, and powerful rhythmic grooves for the percussion and brass.  This piece is dedicated to the legacy of Neil Peart.