Alex and the Phantom Band
Subtitle: A Young Listener's Introduction to Wind, Brass and Percussion Instruments, based on the story The Thirteenth Hour by Kathryn Maslanka
General Info
Year: 2002 / 2015
Duration: c. 16:55
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Maslanka Press
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $299.00 | Score Only (print) - $59.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
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
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV
- Bass Drum
- Chimes
- Crash Cymbals
- Field Drum
- Marimba
- Orchestra Chimes
- Sizzle Cymbal
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal, large
- Tam-Tam
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
- Wind Chimes, metal
- Xylophone
Narrator
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Alex, in search of a flute to give his father for a birthday present, is swept off into a musical dream world where he finds a shabby old theater, the home of “His Majesty’s Royal Band.” Alex climbs to the conductor’s podium and sees the glittering instruments spread before him -- living instruments, but no players! He picks up the baton and points. Each instrument and section responds with its characteristic sounds. Overwhelmed, Alex faints away … to come awake in his own bed, and in his pajama pocket an ancient mahogany flute for his father’s birthday. “Alex” is an engaging and satisfying musical adventure for the young of all ages.
- Program Note from publisher
Alex… was commissioned by the Lansing, Michigan, Community Band for its annual children’s concert. It is intended as an introduction to the instruments of the band. The whimsical and engaging story by Kathryn Maslanka takes the young boy Alex on a dream adventure to the world of the Symphonic Band. He finds himself conducting His Majesty’s Royal Band, and is given an ancient wooden flute.
- Program Note by composer
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Heart of Texas (San Antonio) Concert Band (R. Mark Rogers, conductor; Sudie Rogers, narrator) - 7 March 2021
- Rogue Valley Symphonic Band (Ashland, Ore.) (Daniel Kocurek, conductor) - 21 October 2018
- The Philharmonic Winds (Singapore) (Leonard Tan, conductor; Kamini Ramachandran, narrator) – 6 April 2014
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Alex and the Phantom Band (2002/2015)
- Angel of Mercy (2015)
- California (2016)
- A Child's Garden of Dreams (1981)
- Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble (1999)
- Concerto for Marimba and Band (1990)
- Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble (2015)
- Concerto for Piano, Winds, and Percussion (1979)
- Concerto for Saxophone Quartet and Wind Ensemble (2012)
- Concerto No 2 for Piano, Winds, and Percussion (2002)
- Concerto No 3 for Piano and Wind Ensemble (2016)
- Concerto for Trombone and Wind Ensemble (2007)
- Crown of Thorns (1991)
- Desert Roads (2005)
- Fanfare-Variations on the Chorale Melody "Durch Adams Fall" (Through Adam's Fall). See: Recitation Book
- First Light (2016)
- Four Pieces for Band (1980)
- Give Us This Day (2005)
- Golden Light (1990)
- Heart Songs (2001)
- Hell's Gate (1997)
- Hohner (1999)
- Hosannas (2015)
- Husa (2016)
- Hymn for World Peace (2014)
- Illumination (2013)
- In Memoriam (1990)
- Laudamus Te (1995)
- Letter to Martin (2015)
- Liberation (2012)
- Little Concerto (1990)
- Mass (1995/2005)
- Montana Music: Chorale Variations (1993)
- Morning Star (1997)
- Mother Earth (2008)
- Mountain Roads (1997)
- On This Bright Morning (2013)
- Peace (2012)
- Prelude on a Gregorian Tune (1981)
- Procession of the Academics (2008)
- Quintet for Winds Number 2
- Recitation Book (2006)
- Remember Me (2013)
- Requiem (2013)
- Rollo Takes a Walk (1980)
- Saint Francis (2015)
- Sea Dreams (1998)
- The Seeker (2016)
- Song at the End of Time
- Songs for the Coming Day (2012)
- Song Book (2001)
- Symphony No. 2 (1987)
- Symphony No. 3 (1991/2007)
- Symphony No. 4 (1993)
- Symphony No. 5 (2000)
- Symphony No. 6 (2004)
- Symphony No 7 (2004)
- Symphony No 8 (2008)
- Symphony No. 9 (2011)
- Symphony No. 10 (2018)
- Tears (1994)
- Testament (2001)
- Traveler (2003)
- A Tuning Piece: Songs of Fall and Winter (1995)
- ufo dreams (1999)
- Unending Stream of Life (2007)
- Variants on a Hymn Tune (1995)
Resources
- Maslanka, D. (2002). Alex and the Phantom Band : A Young Listener's Introduction to Wind, Brass and Percussion Instruments for Symphonic Band or Wind Ensemble and Narrator [score]. [Maslanka Press]: [New York].