Tribute To Fallen Storm King Firefighters in Colorado Released
Rifle, CO; September 29, 2003--On July 6, 1994, 14
firefighters, including Smoke Jumpers from Idaho, Oregon,
Montana, Colorado and other western states died when fierce
winds fanned towering flames up Storm King Mountain (just west
of Glenwood Springs, CO). They had been spending the better part
of the day clearing brush and digging trenches to slow the
spreading fires, when high winds forced them to run for cover.
With nowhere to run, outpacing the fast moving flames was
impossible on the steep slopes. Forced to take cover inside
their protective shelters as the flames whipped over them, 14
never made it through the firestorm.
In September 1998, Colorado musician and JavaMusiK recording
artist Jeff Van Devender sat at the piano in the music room of
the school he just started teaching at. The window of his new
room happened to have a perfect view of Storm King Mountain. Van
Devender had witnessed the terrible tragedy in '94, not knowing
until he got home that evening how awful it really was.
"The smoke created a mushroom type cloud which glowed as it hung
over the mountain," he remembered. "As we headed home (Gypsum at
the time), the walls of Glenwood Canyon revealed a
reddish-orange color which was eerily quite beautiful." Upon
turning on the TV however, the scope of the tragedy began to
unfold as continuous news updates blanketed the airwaves
reporting the passing of so many heroes.
As Van Devender sat in his new workplace, in the shadow of Storm
King, the melody began to flow. He remembered the images he had
witnessed, flames cresting over mountain ridges, glowing smoke
hovering in the mid-day sunlight, emergency personnel working to
restore order and, most of all, the brave souls who came from
other parts of the country and sacrificed their lives while
trying to save material possessions and the beautiful
environment surrounding a resort community. "The powerful story
just took over & before I knew it, everything was in place," he
remembers.
Storm King Sacrifice turned out to be a descriptive piece from
beginning to end. The listener can visualize the mountain
sitting in all it's splendor, before being attacked by the
flames. Suddenly, a stark progression of 14 chords climbs toward
it's final ascent leading to an unmistakable, overwhelming
silence. In the end, despite the best efforts of those who
sacrificed so much, the mountain burned, then revealed it's own
new life, reflecting nature's inevitable cycle.
More information about this piece and other music by JavaMusiK
pianist Jeff Van Devender is available at
www.soundclick.com/javamusik and www.javamusik.com. The song
Storm King Sacrifice is available on Van Devender's latest
release, 'Bending Chords,' and is available at
www.cdbaby.com/vand2 or 1-800-289-6923. Proceeds from the sale
of each cd purchased through www.cdbaby.com/vand2 will be
donated to a firefighter memorial fund.
Jeff Van Devender can be found performing every weekend in Estes
Park, CO at the Stanley Hotel & Glenwood Springs, CO at Glenwood
Caverns Exclamation Point Restaurant & during the ski season in
Aspen, CO at the St. Regis Hotel. He also plays for St. John's
Episcopal Church every Sunday in New Castle, CO. Van Devender
lives in Rifle, CO and is an elementary music teacher in
Parachute.
Scott Jeffries - JavaNews, 2003