Aerodynamics

David Gillingham

Subtitle: Celebrating the Centennial of the Invention of Flight by the Wright Brothers in Dayton, Ohio 1903

General Info

Year: 2003
Duration: c. 8:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C. Alan Productions
Cost: Score and Parts - $140.00 | Score Only - $40.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
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
Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

Bass Drum
Bells
Board, six-foot
Brake Drum
Chimes
Crash Cymbals
Crotales
Hi-Hat
Marimba
Ride Cymbal
Slapstick
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-Tam
Temple Blocks
Triangle
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Aerodynamics was commissioned by Donald W. Bruning for the Sinclair Community College Community Bands, conducted by Kenneth Kohlenberg, on the occasion of their Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Season. Since the event coincides with the 100th Anniversary of the invention of flight by the Wright Brothers, I thought it would be appropriate to compose a work which honors that occasion. The result is a work which is entirely celebratory in nature, celebrating man's technological invention and creativity.

It is cast in six sections: 1) Invention, 2) Dayton, Ohio, 1903, 3) The Wright Brothers, 4) Construction, 5) Flight and 6) Celebration. Each of these sections intentionally alludes to its programmatic content. In the first section, "Invention," there is a sense of the unknown and anticipation. Particularly noticeable are the wind noises which allude to flight. The motivic material is taken from Scott Joplin's Weeping Willow Rag, written in 1903, the year of the first successful flight. Throughout the section the piano hints at the ragtime style and segues into the second section, "Dayton, Ohio 1903," where the second strain of the rag is played out on the piano, followed by the flute and alto saxophone playing the first strain. The third section, "The Wright Brothers," unfolds a new and dramatic theme which captures the spirit and importance that the Wright Brothers brought to America with their invention of flight. The middle of the section is interrupted with the first strain of the Weeping Willow Rag, followed by a reprise of the "Wright Brothers Theme."

"Construction" makes reference to the building of the airplane that would later prove successful in flight. The Wrights built the plane in the back of their bicycle shop in Dayton, Ohio. There is pounding on metal and wood and the constant ticking of time throughout the entire section and a smattering of motives from the Rag.

The ensuing section is a musical depiction of the first successful "Flight." The wind noise returns along with ascending and descending chromatic passages in the woodwinds and brass. Underscoring the section are hints of the "Wright Brothers Theme." The section grows in texture and strength and segues into the final section, "Celebration," where the "Wright Brothers Theme" returns in a glorious and celebratory fashion and drives to a resounding conclusion.

- Program Note by composer

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Los Angeles Pierce Symphonic Winds (Stephen P. Piazza, conductor) - 2004

State Ratings

Maryland: VI
Michigan: Senior High AA
North Carolina: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of San Diego (Calif.) Wind Ensemble (Jeffrey Malecki, conductor) – 27 February 2019
Los Angeles Symphonic Winds (Stephen Piazza, conductor) - 15 March 2015
Grove City (Ohio) High School Symphonic Band (George Edge, conductor) - 16 May 2013
Los Angeles Pierce Symphonic Winds (Woodland Hills, Calif.) (Stephen P. Piazza, conductor) – 16 December 2004 (2004 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Appalachian Counterpoint (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
At Morning's First Light (Flex instrumentation) (2004/2020)
Scherzo d'Espoir (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Three Ships (Flex instrumentation) (2020)

All Wind Works

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Aerodynamics (2003)
America the Beautiful (as arranger) (1882/2018)
And Can It Be? (2000)
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Angels of the Apocalypse (2013)
Apocalyptic Dreams (1995)
Appalachian Counterpoint (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Assurance
At Evening's First Star (2019)
At Morning's First Light (2004)
At Morning's First Light (Flex instrumentation) (2004/2020)
Au Sable River Festival (2002)
Be Thou My Vision (1999)
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Bright Gleams a Beacon (2012)
Cantus Laetus (2001)
Century Variants (2009)
Concertino for Four Percussion and Wind Ensemble (1997)
Concerto for Euphonium, Winds and Percussion (2009)
Concerto for Horn and Symphonic Band (2008)
Concerto for Woodwind Quintet and Wind Ensemble (1984/2006)
Concerto No. 2 for Marimba and Wind Ensemble (2008)
Concerto for Piano, Percussion and Wind Orchestra (arr. Fisher) (2005)
Council Oak (2002)
A Crescent Still Abides (1998)
Crest of Honor (2005)
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Drums of Rwanda (2014)
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Fire Up
Foster's America (as arranger) (2003)
Foundations (2017)
Galactic Empires (1998)
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Heroes, Lost and Fallen (1990)
Homage (2012)
Home Again (2016)
Internal Combustion (1999)
Intrada Jubilante (1979/1999)
Jeju Memoir (2019)
Joyau (2019)
Keep Silence (2004)
Kentucky Home (2012)
A Light Unto the Darkness (1997/1998)
Lucid Dreams (2011)
Mansions of Glory (2007)
New Century Dawn (1999)
No Shadow of Turning (2005)
Point of Reckoning (arr. Daughtrey) (2015)
Providence (2003)
Quintessence I (1997)
Quintessence II (2006)
Radiant Moonbeams (2007)
Rising Star
Sails of Time (2006)
Scherzo d'Espoir (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Serenade for Winds and Percussion (2000)
Set the World on Fire (2023)
Seven Bagatelles (2014)
Song Shall Never End, The (2014)
Sub-Saharan Rhythm (1998)
Symphony No. 2 (2007)
Three Ships (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Vintage (1990)
Vital Signs of Planet Earth (2015)
Waking Angels (1997)
When Speaks the Signal Trumpet Tone (1999)
While the Dew Is Still on the Roses (2013)
With Heart and Voice (2000)

Resources

Gillingham, D. (2003). Aerodynamics: Celebrating the Centennial of the Invention of Flight by the Wright Brothers in Dayton, Ohio 1903 [score]. C. Alan Publications: [Greensboro, N.C.]