BAND VICE PRESIDENT - Dan Holroyd
Bringing Music to Life . . . With New Repertoire
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veryone appreciates recommendations for new repertoire and especially a detailed review. Are you looking for pieces that meet your programming objectives? Here
are some selections to consider. My thanks to Dr. James P. McCrann, NAfME member from New York and NYSSMA Band/Wind Ensemble Review Editor, for these insights.
One disclaimer regarding difficulty level: there is no universal consensus regarding the rating scale, range of numbers, or criteria to judge difficulty. Virtually any work can overlap from one grade category to another. Your expertise and knowledge of your students is ultimately most
choosing appropriate
repertoire. Te following are Dr. McCrann’s reviews of new reprtoire for band.
Passerine, Carl Strommen, Grade 3, Carl Fischer Passerine, by Carl Strommen, is another
arrangement of a traditional folk song, but from the lesser known region of Newfoundland. A melancholy song of lost love, Passerine represents the swallow of the song’s lyrics. “She’s like a swallows that flies so high, she’s like the river that never runs dry, she’s like the sunshine on the lee shore. I love my love, and love is no more.” Strommen (a pre-eminent New York
composer) captures these sentiments in a lush orchestration that is both powerful and subdued. Centered in the key of concert C minor, with an abundance of cross-cueing to bolster the bassoon and other essential solo voices. Passerine offers unlimited expressive potential with few technical considerations. Tough superior breath control
is needed to
sustain the legato phrases, this piece is on the easier side of a Level 3. Secondary ensembles of far-ranging levels of experience will benefit profoundly from exploring the depth of this beautiful work.
Te Victoria Peak, Satochi Yagisawa, Grade 3 deHaske. Te Victoria Peak is a concert march by one
of Japan’s most beloved composers. Written for a band festival at the Disneyland Resort in Hong
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Kong, the piece was first performed by a massed ensemble of elementary, junior, and high school bands from across Southeast Asia. Hence, this upliſting and grandiose march can be enjoyed by ensembles from novice to advanced levels. Tough straightforwardly grounded
in the key of concert Bb major, with block scoring, modest ranges, and limited rhythmic demands, the music conveys the bold, rich, and sophisticated elements that are the hallmarks of Yagisawa’s music. Te primary melodic motive encompasses
leaps of a perfect 4th, a perfect 5th, a major 6th, and an octave. By incorporating these concepts into a major scale warm-up, such as an ascending pattern that returns to the root in between each scale degree, and training the students to distinguish between these intervals, much of the conceptual work of this piece will have been accomplished. Te cantabile Trio, contrasting with brilliant opening and ending sections, make this a fitting selection for concert and contest consideration.
A Swedish Melody, Normal J Nelson, Grade 3 Southern Music A Swedish Melody is a freely interpreted
symphonic band setting of the folk song AckVärmeland, du sköne. Te subtitle of this piece, “Haunting and Sublime,” is a perfect description of the gentle, yet somewhat dark melody in concert G minor. Te primary melodic material is present
in a wide variety of instrument combinations, thus allowing all sections of the ensembles an opportunity to express the sensitive, sustained lines. Stark contrasts in volume are present throughout the work, along with seemingly infinite opportunities for students to realize the implied dynamics and phrasing possibilities. Without burdensome technical constraints,
advanced middle and high school will undoubtedly benefit from the primary focus on nuance and sound development demanded by this work.
Great Wall (Te Legend of Qi Jiguang) William Owens, Grade 3, FJH Great Wall (Te Legend of Qi Jiguang)
depicts the history surrounding the Great Wall of China, which was constructed under General Qi Jiguang during the Mind Dynasty to protect against invading forces. Tis captivating work consists of four
continuous, short movements, including the “Mongol Attack,” “Aſtermath,” “Peacetime,” and the “Empire Victorious.” Te music captures the emotional essence of war, peace, mourning, and strength. Te work is perfect for ensembles with
an extensive and eager percussion section. Te ferocity of the percussion outbursts is countered, on the extreme opposite end of the spectrum, by tranquil and fluid solo lines in the flutes, bassoon, and oboe (with cross-cued options for ensembles lacking double reed instruments). Great Wall provides an alluring, contemporary study on that which is both ancient and timeless.
Armenian Rhapsody, Johnny Vinson, Grade 3 Hal Leonard Armenian Rhapsody was commissioned
by the Association of Texas Small School Bands for its 2017 All-State Festival. Based upon five diverging traditional Armenian melodies, the piece conjures moods that are poignant, lighthearted, playful, and mellow, before ultimately arriving at a frenzied conclusion. As harmonic minor is prevalent
in American folk music, the composer recommends that the students become familiar with concert C and G harmonic minor scales
Continued on page 27 Wyoming Windsong
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