When Day
Is Done
Men's Choir and Brass Quintet
by Joseph T. Spaniola
Click to view on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62BQDn9NE9Y
with text adapted from a poem by Edgar Guest
Commissioned by the alumni Brothers of Gamma Epsilon Chapter of Phi Mu
Alpha Sinfonia
at Michigan State University
to honor the memory of their brother, Major Robert L. Grof,
killed in action as a helicopter pilot in Vietnam on April 10, 1971
Composer's
Notes
Bob Grof was an inspiring individual. Though I never had the pleasure of meeting him, I have come to know and admire him. I admire the way he lived his life. In very fundamental terms, he was a kind and unselfish human being, a Spartan, a Sinfonian, and a decorated patriot. These are the traits I set out to convey in the piece that honors him.
By all accounts Bob found great joy in doing what needed to be done, in helping others and going above and beyond the call. The words of Edgar Guest's poem When Day is Done capture the caring, humble and optimistic side of Bob Grof. It presents a portrait of an individual who upon reflection finds, despite the hustle and challenges of everyday living, "that life is good and its tasks worthwhile." When the verse speaks of returning to "the friendly door . . . where music reigns . . . and the brothers sing in an old-time way," you will find melodic quotations from the "MSU Shadows" which help recall Bob's bond to home - Michigan State, Phi Mu Alpha, and the greater Lansing area - and those who helped make his time there so meaningful.
The contrasting section of "When Day is Done" has the choir diverge from the Guest poetry and the text is spoken rather than sung. In this section four elements are juxtaposed. The first is a combination of two statements taken from Phi Mu Alpha writings: "A unique force exists when music and love are combined to bring peace and comfort to those in need," and the motto for the fraternity's members, "manly musician and musicianly man." The second element is a group of actions that Bob Grof seemed to pursue: sanctify love; personify honor; identify truth; amplify peace; exemplify courage; and intensify giving. The third element is the name of the unit in which Bob served when he was killed in action: B/2/17 CAV 101 ABN. The forth element is simply Bob Grof's name. The four elements are brought together and transform in a magical way.
In the final section of the piece, the choir returns to singing text from Guest's poem. The poetry presents its protagonist in a reflective review of his life. He finds himself in a place where there "are those who cling to their faith in me." The reflection is summed up by stating, "With love on guard at my humble door, I have all that the world's struggled for." This protagonist is Bob Grof. He lived a tragically short, but honest, rich, generous and fulfilling life. He touched in a special way all whose path crossed his. We remember him as we "cling to our faith in him" and know that he truly has "all that the world's struggled for." We honor and salute Bob Grof: cherished brother, faithful Spartan and devoted patriot.
Once a Sinfonian,
Always a Sinfonian.
Long live Sinfonia!
Joseph T. Spaniola
April 2014
Major Robert L. Grof (July 27, 1938-April 10, 1971) was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan. Starting in kindergarten and continuing into high school he was an active member of the Boy's Choir at Plymouth Congregational Church, in Lansing. He graduated from Eastern High School in 1956 where he sang in the Madrigal Choir, had leading rolls in three musicals, and played trombone in the Concert Band. Bob went on to Michigan State University as a business major. At MSU he sang with and was Manager of the University's oldest singing organization, the State Singers. He was an active member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia at MSU where he was always available to fix whatever was broken in the house and even found time to play string bass in Phi Mu Alpha combos on campus. He graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in 1961 and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army.
Following his graduation from MSU, Bob trained as an Army Aviator at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. He became a pilot of fixed wing aircraft and was deployed to West Germany where he flew surveillance missions along the Iron Curtain. In the mid-1960s he returned to the States and was trained at Ft. Riley, Kansas as a helicopter pilot. Following his training he was deployed to Vietnam.
At the time of his death, Major Grof was Commanding Officer of Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 17th Air Cavalry, 101st Airborne Division. He was survived by his wife, Victoria, and three children. This was Major Grof's second tour of duty in Vietnam.
Major Grof is recognized as one of MSU's most highly decorated graduates, receiving over 50 medals and commendations. On his initial tour he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation's second highest award for valor.
Distinguished Service Cross
for extreme
gallantry and risk of life in combat with an armed enemy force
The President of the United States takes pleasure in
presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Robert L. Grof (0-5513249),
Captain (Armor), U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military
operations involving conflict with an armed hostile force in the Republic of
Vietnam, while serving with Troop D, 3d Squadron, 5th
Cavalry, 9th Infantry Division. Captain Grof
distinguished himself by exceptionally valorous actions 
on 19 June
1967 as an aircraft commander during an evacuation mission for the 9th Infantry
Division. Hearing an urgent radio request to evacuate over one hundred
casualties from a heated battle, Captain Grof flew to the unsecured area and
landed to load the wounded. Intense machine gun fire raked the aircraft and
wounded him in the face. Despite the pain of his injury, impairment of his
sight and a crippled ship, he successfully flew out of the area to a treatment
center. Upon reaching the hospital, Captain Grof volunteered to stay in his
aircraft and returned to the beleaguered unit for more casualties. While patients
were being loaded, the helicopter was rendered inoperative by numerous
additional hits, one of which wounded Captain Grof a second time. Despite the
incredibly intense fire directed on his craft, he remained aboard to radio
other helicopters in the area to move to a more secure area. Seeing another
ship crash nearby, he rushed to the scene and made repeated trips through an
open rice paddy to help the survivors to safety. He then recovered vital
ammunition from the downed craft and established a perimeter defense. He and
his men successfully repelled the enemy until medical evacuation helicopters
could land and evacuate them. Captain Grof's
extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest
traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his
unit, and the United States Army. (Headquarters, U.S. Army, Vietnam, General
Orders No. 3228 (July 8, 1968))
Edgar A. Guest (August 20, 1881-August 5, 1959) was a prolific English-born American poet who was popular in the first half of the 20th century and became known as the People's Poet. In 1895 he was hired as a copy boy for the Detroit Free Press, where he would work for almost sixty-five years. From his first published work in the Detroit Free Press until his death in 1959, Guest penned some 11,000 poems which were syndicated in some 300 newspapers and collected in more than 20 books. Guest was made Poet Laureate of Michigan, the only poet to have been awarded the title. "When Day Is Done" was published in 1921. The first and last verses of the poem are used in the composition:
When day is done and the night slips down,
And I've turned my back on the busy town.
And come once more to the welcome gate
Where the roses nod and the children wait.
I tell myself as I see them smile
That life is good and its tasks worthwhile.
When day is done and I reach my gate,
I come to a realm where there is no hate,
For here, whatever my worth may be,
Are those who cling to their faith in me;
And with love on guard at my humble door,
I have all that the world has struggled for.
Dr. Joseph T. Spaniola (b. May 7, 1963) is active as a composer, educator, lecturer, producer, clinician, and adjudicator. He is on the faculty at the University of West Florida where he has served as Director of Music Theory and Jazz Studies since 2007 and served as Chair of the Music Department from 2010 to 2013. From 1998 through 2007, he was the Chief Composer/ Arranger for The United States Air Force Academy Band (Colorado Springs, CO), and the Non Commissioned Officer in Charge of Music Production and Recording. He is prolific as a composer and has composed works for band, orchestra, chamber ensembles, solo instruments, voice, choir, and electronic tape. His compositions have been performed in concert halls and have been recorded by ensembles in North America, Europe, Japan, South America, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and China. Dr. Spaniola received his Doctor of Musical Arts in Composition from the University of North Texas. He received his Master of Music in Composition, and his Bachelor of Music in Theory and Composition from Michigan State University. He is a member of the MSU chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
Click to view on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62BQDn9NE9Y
Click to go to Spartan Sinfonian Alumni website: http://www.spartansinfonianalumni.com/