Abby Giles

Dr. Frank Tracz

MUSIC 518 Instrumental Conducting
20 February 2018

Project 2: Concert Program Development

Concert 1

a.) Opener: Prairie Dances by David Holsinger

Holsinger based this piece on the cattle region of Texas. It is an engaging piece for
performer and audience alike as it is full of the rambunctious rhythms of the cowboy
towns. It is just under 3 minutes long. The piece requires many unison melodies, but
then overlaps them as it goes on. It is fast, upbeat, and provides interest through the
style and articulations.

b.) Ballad: Air for Band by Frank Erickson

This is a masterful example of a slow, elegant work at the easy level. It features the
trademark harmonic language of Frank Erickson. It was written in 1956 and revised
in 1966. A and B sections lead to a climactic coda. It was one of the first original slow
and pretty pieces that was playable by young bands. If played as artfully as
composed, it would constitute a welcome enhancement to almost any concert
program. Air is in C minor, with a shift to C major at measure 43. Its form is A-B-A-
Coda. The instrumentation calls for undivided flutes, oboe (mostly doubling the
flutes, occasionally at the octave), bass clarinet, bassoon, baritone, tuba, and string
bass. The B flat clarinets, trumpets, and trombones are divided into two parts
instead of the customary three. The percussion includes only snare drum and
cymbals. This piece of music would be very beneficial for students because it allows
them to go deep with musicality after they have quickly learned a piece.

c.) Novelty: Awakening Hills by Richard Saucedo

Awakening Hills is about when morning breaks and the countryside comes alive, and
this piece portrays it well. There are dynamic ensemble passages, lots of percussion
and brief solos for alto saxophone and flute in the contrasting middle section. This is
an exuberant work that does not overwhelm young players. The layering effects and
Saucedo’s use of repetitive rhythmic motives cause this piece to sound very
complex, when it really isn’t. Though it is attainable technically for a young
ensemble, it still requires good vertical alignment and balance to be played well.
Students and audiences will both enjoy this piece. The contrasting sections add
interest. Saucedo grabs your attention at the beginning with a dramatic opening and
holds your attention through the end.

d.) Biggie: Little English Suite by Clare Grundman

This piece is timeless and classic. Four traditional English folk songs are presented,
including The Leather Bottel, Roving, We Met, and Vicar or Bray. The Leather Bottel is
in a rollicking 6/8 melody, Roving and We Met both provide lyric contrast, and The
Vicar of Bray concludes the suite in a grand and stately style. These four movements
provide students the opportunity to play in different styles. The melodies are
recognizable, making them both enjoyable to listen to from an audience perspective
and enjoyable for students to play.

e.) March: Children’s March by Percy Grainger arragned by Douglas E. Wagner

This piece continues to be a classic and an audience favorite. It requires precise
vertical alignment as well as matching articulation throughout. Dynamic contrast
provides interest. Grainger’s unique tonal colors and whimsical rhythms provide
interest in this well known song. Douglas Wagner scored it for grade 3 while
retaining Grainger’s original compositional integrity.

Concert 2

a.) Opener: The Pride of Buxmont by David Holsinger

This song grabs your attention from the beginning with a fast tempo and unison
parts. New colors are added with each section, and dynamic contrast helps provide
interest. It is only 2 minutes and 46 seconds long, so it would be a good opener
because it catches your attention quickly. Vertical alignment is a big component of
this piece, as well as articulation.

b.) Ballad: With Each New Sunset (Comes the Promise of a New Day) by Richard
Saucedo
This piece is composed with delicate orchestrations and tender melodies. Saucedo
uses a mixture of soloists and ensemble score as well as careful pacing to provide
emotional peaks and releases. This piece is beautifully written, and even though it is
not technically difficult, it sounds like it if done well. Saucedo wrote this song for the
family of a soldier who was fighting overseas and was killed in action, and this
emotion and musical expression can be shown throughout this piece.

c.) Novelty: Ginger Marmalade by Warren Benson

This piece starts out with a simple melody. The trumpets play it and then the
ensemble slowly layers and builds in. It has complex melodies and also requires
clapping from the ensemble. It is spirited and bright. Requiring intense vertical
alignment and knowledge of the phrase, it is fun for students to play while providing
a level of difficulty.

d.) Biggie: American Riversongs by Pierre La Plante

This work is a tribute to an earlier time, when our rivers and other waterways were
the lifelines of our growing nation. It features Down The River; Shenandoah (Across
the WideMissouri); The Glendy Burk and a delightful Greole bamboula tune. It is
emotional and nostalgic. This piece has contrasting sections that change both style
and tempo. Written with complex harmonies and layering, this would be a very good
novelty piece. It also features a short trumpet solo and is a little over 6 minutes long.

e.) March: Air Force March by Tomas Sak

This composition is played at mm=152 or slightly faster. The scoring is very
imaginative and constantly changing. For this reason, each phrase needs to be
balanced internally as well as balanced with neighboring phrases in order to achieve
a smooth texture and flow. In the trio, pay special attention to the tenor sax melody
as well as the cymbal intrusion in bar seven and the trumpets in bar eight. The
baritone counter melody and flugelhorn lines are also very important. There are
many dynamic contrasts throughout this piece. This march is a great march for a
Grade 3 band.

Concert 3

a.) Opener: Toccata for Band by Frank Erickson

b.) Ballad: On a Hymnsong of Philip Bliss by David R. Holsinger

This piece is based on the well known hymn It is Well With My Soul. It takes a well
known melody and makes it into something more. The audience would really enjoy
this piece because it is well known and many people could find a way to connect to
it. Students are given the chance to input intense musicality into this music. It is a
very beautiful piece and would help your band learn control in slower tempos. Also,
it has an incredible climax. It can be described as a restful, gentle, and reflective
composition.

c.) Novelty: Jubilancelation by Richard Saucedo

This exciting overture pays tribute to the musical style of classic band composer
Ceasar Giovannini. It features a rhythmically dynamic opening and closing segments
and also has a beautiful middle lyric section that includes a short solo for flute.

d.) Biggie: Country Bandstand by James Syler

This is a three-movement work that plays the sounds of a traditional town square
with its bandstand. The first movement is based on the southern folksong Bachelor’s
Hall. Next is a chorale setting of the folk hym Vernon. The piece concludes with the
fok tune Happy Land, transformed into a barn dance. Not only would this help
studnets learn the history behind the piece, but it allows them to play three different
movements that have different styles. The first movement requires vertical
alignment, the second requires an understanding of the legato style and balance
required, and the third requires good vertical alignment for complex rhythms.

e.) March: Alpha Patrol March by Clifton Jones

This was written as an original march for young concert band, which has two main
thematic ideas. The first theme should begin softly and mysteriously, as if the band
is up to something sneaky. The second theme at is like the traditional trio of a march
and should be flowing and chorale-like. The first theme reappears to conclude the
piece. This march allows students to play contrasting sections.

Concert 4

a.) Opener: Caccia by Norman Dello Joio

b.) Ballad: Canterbury Chorale by Jan Van der Roost

The cathedral of the English city Canterbury inspired this piece. It explores the rich
fullness of different colors. Dynamic contrast as well as phrasing and balance are
subjects that could be taught with this piece. It provides solo phrases for several
instruments as well as massive tutti passages that make the wind orchestra sound
like a majestic organ. This piece requires good tone and support throughout. It also
provides an attainable challenge for all instrument groups.

c.) Novelty: Colonial Song by Percy Grainger arranged by Douglas E. Wagner

This edition of this band repertoire classic is abridged and condensed, but it has
been left in the original key with all of Grainger’s main themes and textures. This
allows students to play a band literature classic at a grade 3 level. The unique
instrumental colorings of the original are presented in this very playable scoring.
This piece has a beautiful but recognizable melody. Dynamic contrast and phrasing
is involved throughout.

d.) Biggie: Courtly Airs and Dances by Ron Nelson

This is a suite of Renaissance dances which were characteristic to five different
European countries. The festival opens with a fanfare-like Intrada followed by Basse
Dance (France), Pavane (England), Saltarello (Italy), Sarabande (Spain), and
Allemande (Germany). This allows students to play in a variety of different styles. It
also gives them experience playing music from this time period and knowledge of
the history.

e.) March: 3-D Galop, The (March) by William Owens

This piece was commissioned by Mr. Carroll Rhodes for the Tohoka (TX) High
School “3-D” Band and is dedicated to all who are willing to dream, to dare, and to
do. This musical “carnival ride” is a whimsical showpiece for band that exudes
energy and excitement from the beginning to the end. It starts right off with a brigt
opening statement that very much sets the tone for the rest of the performance. The
music then changes key and settles into the softer Auld Lang Sine section. The music
closes with a rousing bang. This piece is exciting and interesting for both students
and audiences.

Concert 5

a.) Opener: Mosaic by Stephen Paulus

b.) Ballad: God of our Fathers: A Chorale by Frank Erickson

c.) Novelty: Ginger Marmalade by Warren Benson
This song has many different colors involved. It is upbeat, exciting, and brings
interest to both students and the audience. It also involves clapping. Vertical
alignment is very important to this piece as well as learning complex melodies.

d.) Biggie: Suite Divertimento by Jay Gilbert

This is a three movement work, and the main themes for all of the movements are
derived from a four-note motive: Bb-C-F-G, and reflect the character of the
movement’s title. “Prologue” is an eclectic fanfare which combines elements of
popular music in to a symphonic form. The “Pastoral” has serene opening and
closing sections which surround a stormy middle section. “Parade” opens with a
procession of themes and motives which are then used throughout the movement.
As the work unfolds, these ideas begin to overlap and build in intensity, as if the
parade were passing by the listener.

e.) March: Comrades of Tuesday March by William Camphouse

This marchis written in the form of a traditional march and is intended to be
performed in the style and tempo of a European march. It is important for young
musicians to be exposed to a slower march. Close attention is required to contrast in
articulation, dynamics, timbre, and melodic character.