Composer, Arranger and Lyricist
Tyra wrote numerous original compositions, arrangements and lyrics for works performed by symphonic bands, marching bands and brass ensembles of all levels. For beginning bands, Tyra wrote a series of original compositions including Wholey Hymn, Modal March, Pentatonic Polka, Quartal Caper, and Polytonal Parade. Compositions and arrangements for intermediate bands include Two 17th Century Italian Songs and arrangements of Handel's The Messiah (Part I) and I'd Do Anything from the Lionel Bart musical Oliver! His Two Gaelic Folk Songs (1964) is standard repertorie for many intermediate band programs.
For more skilled ensembles, he penned many arrangements of pre-game and half-time music for the Northwestern, LSU and EMU Marching Bands, including nationally televised works performed by the Tiger Marching Band when LSU competed post-season at the Sugar Bowl (1959, 1960), the Orange Bowl (1962), the Cotton Bowl Classic (1963) and the Bluebonnet Bowl (1964). His original compositions include Suite for Brass and Tympani, Three Christmas Miniatures, Ceremonial Sketch and Intravention. For Eastern Michigan University, Tyra composed Eastern Variants, the music and lyrics for Go Green! and the break strain for the Huron (now Eagle) Fight Song - whose low brass voices reflect the skills he honed while at the U.S. Navy School of Music.
As part of Northwestern University's early 1950s efforts to revitalize its school hymn (Quaecumque Sunt Vera), then Director of Bands John Paynter, recruited Tyra - an undergraduate music major, Wildcat Band trumpet player and staff assistant - to craft English words to replace the hymn's traditional Latin verse. The earliest known recorded performance of their resulting collaboration - renamed Alma Mater (University Hymn) - was created on October 3, 1953. Paynter's instrumental/A capella musical arrangement and Tyra's lyrics ( ... Hail to purple, Hail to white, Hail to thee Northwestern ... ) remain an integral part of Northwestern University tradition today.
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