Pricing

Printed Score Only: $35
Printed Score + Printed Parts: $169.99
Printed Score + Digital PDF Parts: $169.99
 

Details

Grade 4 – Small Wind Ensemble (Chamber Winds)
Year of Composition: 2024
Length: 9:00

Instrumentation

2 Flutes
1 Oboe*
2 Bassoons**
2 Clarinets in Bb
1 Bass Clarinet in Bb

2 Alto Saxophones in Eb
1 Tenor Saxophone in Bb
1 Baritone Saxophone in Eb

1 Trumpet in Bb
2 Horns in F
2 Trombones
1 Euphonium
1 Tuba

1 Double Bass 

Percussion 1:   Vibraphone, Snare Drum
Percussion 2:   Crystal Glass (G***), Bass Drum (shared w/perc. 3), Crotales (single A), Triangle
Percussion 3:   Glockenspiel, Bass Drum (shared w/ perc. 2), Suspended Cymbal

Note: This work is scored for 23 players, as outlined above. Parts should not be doubled.

*An alternate oboe part (for Bb clarinet) is provided so the work can be performed without oboe if necessary. However, using oboe is preferred and highly encouraged.

**Cross cueing is provided for bassoon parts so the work can be performed without bassoons if necessary. However, using bassoons is preferred and highly encouraged. Not all bassoon lines are cued. Some lines are doubled in other instruments and therefore additional cueing/coverage is not needed.

***The Crystal Glass is notated as a G on top of the treble clef. This pitch or the G one octave higher are both acceptable.

Program Note

The German composer Robert Schumann (1810-1856) is one of several composers who wrote a musical setting of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s brilliant poem, “Wandrers Nachtlied” (Wanderer’s Night Song). Schumann’s beautifully deep and mysterious setting (Op. 96, No. 1) captivated me years ago when I first heard it and it inspired much of “Lullaby” from my song cycle Alcott Songs.

In early 2024, I had the idea to create a fantasia based on this art song, in keeping with the tradition of composers who write rhapsodic works on an earlier work that inspires them. (Two of my favorites are Vaughn William’s Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis, and Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.)

The brilliance of Goethe’s poem about night (see a translation below) is matched by stunning, beautiful music by Schumann. Packed within a three-minute art song, Schumann creates a whole world for the listener to experience — one that is utterly peaceful and yet, solemn.

The poem’s night theme likely has a dual meaning (death) that Schumann explores through chorale-like textures and moments of harmonic rest and unrest. While Schumann begins this art song with gentle, tranquil music and leads to more unsettled moments near the end, my Fantasia does the opposite; I begin with Schumann’s most unsettled and surprising chord and over the course of the work, lead to the most serene music at the end. My work concludes with an orchestrated setting of Schumann’s art song in its entirety.

A fantasia is often a quasi-improvisatory piece that forgoes a more rigid form in favor of a through-composed structure. Such is the case in this piece, where small motives, harmonies, and melodies from Schumann’s art song form the basis for sections and are developed and expanded. 

Consortium Members

Arkansas State University, Nicholas Balla

Arris Golden

Athens Drive High School (NC), Jerry Markoch

Bloomington High School (IL), Max E. Chernick

Butler University, Trae Blanco

Christopher Newport University, Mark P. Johnson

Clemson University, Mark Spede

Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, Benjamin Gerrard

Eastman School of Music, Mark D. Scatterday

Indiana Wind Symphony, Jay Gephart (On behalf of Charles Conrad)

Mary D. Bradford High School (WI), Karl C. Mueller

Metropolitan State University of Denver, David Kish

Monmouth College, Justin Swearinger

Nazareth University, Jared Chase

Nebraska Wesleyan University, Josh Roach

The Ohio State University, Scott A. Jones

Purdue University, David Blon

Roxbury High School (NJ), Jeffrey Conrad

Sam Houston State University, Matthew McInturf

Texas Christian University, Bobby R. Francis

The United States Air Force Academy Band, Captain Michael Flynn

University of Arizona, Chad R. Nicholson

University of Central Arkansas, Michael Hancock

University of Central Florida, Tremon Kizer

University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Kevin M. Holtzman

University of Mississippi, Tim Oliver

University of North Carolina Wilmington, Dominic Talanca

University of South Alabama, Robert D. Abend

University of Tennessee Martin, John Oelrich

University of West Georgia, Josh Byrd