Army Staff Sgt. Andrew Kosinski never imagined that his work for the U.S. Army Band would bring him face-to-face with the most unique challenge of his professional career: composing a funeral hymn for a former president, to be performed outdoors, amid biting wind and freezing temperatures.
Kosinski serves as a music arranger in the U.S. Army Band. Founded in 1922 by order of Army Gen. John Pershing, the band represents one of the Defense Department’s premier musical organizations, with a reputation for excellence that stretches back a century.
Fittingly, “Pershing’s Own” is at the heart of this week’s proceedings honoring former President Jimmy Carter. That mission resonated with Kosinski, who recognized its historical significance.
“I’m on the band’s support staff and one of our tasks is to tailor musical arrangements to the specific needs of each event,” Kosinski said. “But I never expected to participate in a ceremony this important.”
In the final week of preparations for the state funeral, Kosinski and his “Pershing’s Own” colleagues worked around the clock to ensure every note would be executed flawlessly, despite an impending winter storm.
And central to yesterday’s proceedings in Washington – which began at Joint Base Andrews with the transfer of Carter’s remains and ended with a caisson-led procession along Pennsylvania Avenue — was Kosinski’s specially arranged composition, crafted to account for a simple reality: brass instruments’ metal valves and keys can lock up in low temperatures.
“In extreme cold, the valves and the keys of the instruments will freeze in place, which means that [the performers] only have access to a few musical notes to work with,” Kosinski explained. “So, I composed a piece that used a technique to mitigate the freezing temperatures.”
Kosinski’s solution leveraged a quality common to Army units: teamwork.
“In conditions that affect instrument performance, players can cover each other’s missing pitches to produce a seamless composition,” he said. “We considered the unique strengths and abilities of each instrument before deciding on how they should complement each other.”
Kosinski’s composition — which he dubbed “Frigidus (For the Commander)” — substituted French horns and clarinets for tubas where appropriate, honoring Carter with an original hymn.
But yesterday’s conditions impacted more than the band’s instruments; the frigid temperatures forced performers assigned to “Pershing’s Own” to dress for the weather, in wool overcoats and thick gloves.
Kosinski admitted that the winter uniforms produced their own challenges. “Sometimes it can be difficult to press the right button when you have … big, stubby gloves on,” he said. Still, the band played flawlessly despite the handicap and maintained their composure throughout the long ceremonial route.
The staff sergeant credited his bandmates’ performance to their rigorous training regimen and sense of shared purpose.
“The U.S. Army Band’s special quality is its fortitude — they don’t give up, and I think that’s something that the Army … instills at basic training,” Kosinski said. “In this uniform, you will face challenges and setbacks, but the key to success is to pick yourself up and learn from those difficult moments.”
Kosinski joined the Army Band just over two years ago, after completing a master’s at Johns Hopkins University’s Peabody Institute of Music. Before enlisting, he freelanced in composition, conducting and trumpet performance. In 2022, Kosinski entertained a scholarship offer to pursue a doctorate in music at the University of Georgia but ultimately declined. The invitation to compose for “Pershing’s Own” was simply “too valuable to pass up,” he explained, especially if it meant working alongside talented musicians who were equally willing to answer their nation’s call.
Carter’s funeral showcased Kosinski’s innovative spirit and deep respect for history and public service. And his arrangement’s synchronized notes are a testament to “Pershing’s Own’s” commitment to America’s leaders, no matter the circumstances.
“I can’t help but feel extremely fortunate that I was able to contribute to the ceremony and honor President Carter’s service,” he said. “This was an exceptional, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
