The
New York Staff Band
Signature Series

The Beauty of Thy Peace
Dorothy Gates (ASCAP)

Commissioned for and premiered by the New York Staff Band at Old Orchard Beach in 2025, The Beauty of Thy Peace is a deeply expressive
new work from composer Dorothy Gates.

Built around the beloved hymn tune “Repton” (“Dear Lord and Father of Mankind”), the piece invites both performers and listeners into a moment of calm reflection and beauty.
Gates’ writing showcases the lyrical and emotional range of the modern brass band, balancing rich harmonic textures with moments of serene
stillness. The music unfolds with a sense of quiet reverence, allowing the melody to breathe and the ensemble to explore a depth of musical and
spiritual expression rarely captured with such intimacy.

While deceptively simple on the surface, The Beauty of Thy Peace demands great control, sensitivity, and balance from the players. Every
phrase must be shaped with care, every note placed with purpose. The result is a work of exquisite beauty—one that reminds us that peace is not
merely the absence of noise, but the presence of grace.