9-11: Voices Echo

From Wind Repertory Project
Benjamin Boone

Benjamin Boone


Subtitle: For Wind Ensemble and Recorded Voices


General Info

Year: 2003
Duration: c. 22:50
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Gary P. Gilroy Productions
Cost: Score and Parts - $89.00   |   Score Only - $20.00


Movements

1. Attack - 12:12
2. Aftermath - 10:38


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion (8), including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Breakables and debris
  • Chains
  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Crotales, bowed
  • Glockenspiel
  • Gong
  • Hi-Hat
  • Marimba
  • Metal Trash Can
  • Nut Shaker
  • Sizzle Cymbal
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Tam-Tam
  • Thunder Sheets
  • Tom-Tom
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Wood Block
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This work was commissioned by the California State University Fresno Wind Ensemble, Larry Sutherland, director. Benjamin Boone is to be congratulated for composing this musical tour-de-force that captures the tragedy and profound sadness of that horrific day. This is a huge work, almost twenty-three minutes in length, in two movements, for wind ensemble and recorded voices.

The first movement, “Attack,” captures the horror, rage, anger, and emotional chaos and confusion of that infamous day with aggressive rhythm in asymmetrical meter. Voices of students are superimposed over the music. The second movement, “Aftermath,’ is a somber reflection of the intense emotions after that day in our history that will never be forgotten.

- Program Note from The Instrumentalist


Much of the raw material for this piece was written on the afternoon of September 11, 2001. After becoming saturated with hours and hours of images of the tragedy on the television, I went to my MIDI piano and began to play into my music notation program. I didn't know what else to do - how else to digest the horror that was unfolding. The result was pure rage, anger and profound sadness.

Just prior to that, I had received a California State University Research, Scholarship and Creative Activities Award to compose a work incorporating student input. When I discussed with students what I should write about, the overwhelming response was the attack. I met with students on several occasions, soliciting musical ideas and began work. After several trials, I felt my efforts were hollow and overly sentimental. For the first time, I revisited the music I played on 9-11 and realized that this raw emotional outpouring would be a fitting basis of the work. I then decided that the best way involve students was to use their voices in the musical texture. As I interviewed them, the students grappled for meaning, for words and for understanding, as many of us do to this day. The result is the piece you will hear - a piece that I hope will cause all of us to reflect on 9-11 and its implications for our lives and our country's life. As one student says, "I hope that we will learn from this, that our country will learn from this."

- Program Note by composer


Commissioned by the CSU [California State University] Fresno Wind Ensemble, Larry Sutherland, Director, through a grant from California State University, Fresno. Premiered on September 11, 2003.

- Program Note from score


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

  • Boone, B. [2003?]. 9-11: Voices Echo: For Wind Ensemble and Recorded Voices [score].
  • "New Music Reviews." The Instrumentalist, 69/9 (April 2015), p. 38.