Ar-gard
General Info
Year: 2008
Duration: c. 7:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Retsel Mil Publications
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Baritone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bongos
- Cowbell
- Crash Cymbals
- Floor Tom
- Glockenspiel
- Gong
- Marimba
- Metal Plate (high pitched)
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tambourine
- Tom-Tom (4)
- Tubular Bells
- Vibraphone
- Whip
- Xylophone
- Wind Chimes
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Composed in November 2008, Ar-gard literally means “Air” in Kuremanee’s native language of Thai. In this work, the composer imagines how the air around us might evoke different emotions such as happiness, jubilation, or regret. For the piece, he uses a group of notes, the set {0, 3, 6, 7} which is a diminished triad with the inclusion of the natural 5th note, to create the colour of the sound. He develops and expands these notes into a variety of musical figures, symbolizing a spectrum of feelings and thoughts, in a neo-tonal style. And like the air around us, which can take on many forms, this musical set provides unity through its structure and omnipresence.
This composition is divided into three distinct sections, each of which is comprised of the development of a main idea and its transformation into a variety of musical idioms and structures. Thai elements such as pentatonic scales are used to create the work’s many moods and textures.
- Program note by composer
Awards
- Ar-gard has been recommended as interesting, serious and distinctive music by members of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE).
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- New Edmonton (Alberta, Canada) Wind Sinfonia (Raymond Baril, conductor) – 16 July 2015 - WASBE Conference, San Jose, Calif.
- Horwang School (Chatuchak, Thailand) Wind Ensemble – 29 March 2012
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Ar-gard (2008)
- Love of Siam
Resources
- Kuremanee, Kitti (2006). Argard (air) [score]. Emmy Music: [s.l.]