“Welded Steel” Highlights The Importance Of Manufacturing
“No country is ever successful in the long term…without a really strong and vibrant manufacturing base.” Those words by Alan Mulally echo from every small town in Southeast Minnesota to the largest cities on either coast of the United States, and everywhere in between. That’s why Harmony Enterprises is so passionate about career exploration, youth work experience, mock interviews, career fairs, welding competitions, and internships in manufacturing and the trades. In Southeast Minnesota, you can drive up and down Highway 52 and come across manufacturing facilities in just about every community that provide meaningful employment opportunities and support the local economy.
When it comes to advocacy for the importance of manufacturing to the economy and quality of life in SE MN, one Harmony manager recently took it one step further. Lane Powell is the New Business Development Manager at Harmony. He is a former public school music instructor with several publications of concert and jazz band music to his credit under multiple labels.
This past year, he applied for an received another Established Artist Creative Individuals Grant made possible through the Southeast Minnesota Arts Council in cooperation with a private foundation. This activity was to compose a piece for concert band that depicts the sounds of the manufacturing floor and the promise that manufacturing holds for America’s future. In addition to the music, a video showing the process of raw steel being cut, shaped, and welded into viable products for consumer use was to be made to be viewed simultaneously with the performance of the music.
About The Music, “Welded Steel”
As a marketing manager with Harmony Enterprises (Harmony, MN) and member
of the SE MN Workforce Development, Inc. Board of Directors, the composer
draws on his experiences with the sights, sounds inside manufacturing facilities,
the essential products they create, and the positive impact careers in the trades
have both on employees and communities.
The Stewartville HS Symphonic band receives enthusiastic applause following their premiere performance of “Welded Steel”.
“Welded Steel” premiered on May 16, 2025 with the Stewartville, MN High School Symphonic Band, under the director of Jessica Honsey, conductor. Following this performance, the music is being distributed free of charge to high school bands throughout the SEMAC region.
Welded Steel is a driving contemporary piece written for an expanded percussion
section to depict the sounds of the production floor. It is written with cross
instrumentation and orchestration to be accessible for bands with limited
instrumentation. It works well as a concert opener for massed bands in a festival
or honor band setting.
The introduction contains thematic material found throughout the work. These
motives are shared between sections of the music and within varying sections of
the band. Even some of the harmonic movement is based on the melodic content
of these same themes.
Welded Steel is written in 3⁄4 time to depict the symbiotic relationship between
manufacturers, their employees, and community. The tempo marking at 152 is
purposeful, highlighting the many manufacturers whose businesses can be found
on or near Hwy 52 throughout SE MN. The perpetual snare drum feel illustrates
the driving force manufacturing has on our local economy.
The video takes footage from the Harmony Enterprises shop floor and shows the process of how our full range of long lasting recycling balers, trash compactors, and full product destruction machines are built, especially with the quality welded steel and master craftsmanship.
Mr. Powell stated, “Like agriculture, manufacturing is vital to the prosperity of the United States. The products and services we enjoy today come from the labor and love of hard working Americans. These careers not only offer for a secure future for people and their families, they provide a significant investment that helps to maintain the vitality of communities both big and small!”
“Like agriculture, manufacturing is vital to the prosperity of the United States. The products and services we enjoy today come from the labor and love of hard working Americans. These careers not only offer for a secure future for people and their families, they provide a significant investment into local economies that helps to maintain the vitality of communities both big and small!”
-Lane Powell, New Business Development Manager, Harmony Enterprises
Click the play button below to hear the midi version of the music and see the concert video!
Support Manufacturing In Your Community
With many documented reasons on The Importance of Manufacturing, Harmony Enterprises encourages you to do whatever you can to support local manufacturers in your area. There are many ways you can engage with groups like Workforce Development, Inc. to help advocate for careers in the trades or learn more about them as a potential career path for yourself!
If you would like to learn more about how we support manufacturing, ways our employees engage our community, or about out many other products and services, please call us at (507) 886-6666 or fill out this simple contact form today!
