Au Sable River Festival

From Wind Repertory Project
David Gillingham

David Gillingham


General Info

Year: 2002
Duration: c. 8:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: C Alan / McClaren Productions
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $130.00   |   Score Only (print) - $45.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto 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
  • Bells
  • Brake Drum
  • Chimes
  • Claves
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Hi-Hat
  • Marimba
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Tam-Tam
  • Temple Blocks
  • Tom-Tom (3)
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

AuSable River Festival seeks to musically depict the events and the excitement of the annual Festival by the same name held in Grayling, Michigan. The Festival is also inclusive of the famous Canoe Marathon, which begins in Grayling on the AuSable River and goes eastward, ending in Osada.

The work begins with the excitement of the festival and parade. The "festival theme" is constructed on an Eb pentatonic scale, which seems to reflect the "open air" ambience of northern Michigan. The duple meter changes to compound duple, suggesting a parade and then returns to the activity of the festival. All of this excitement concludes and segues into a much more calm Ab major and the "river theme" emerges.

Again using the resource of the pentatonic scale, the river theme reflects the grandeur of this river and suggests festival participants enjoying relaxing boat rides down its graceful and flowing currents. Following, the river theme is interrupted by the preparation for the great Canoe Marathon by continuous sixteenths in the xylophone and trumpets. The fuse of the cannon is lit ("sss" sound) and the subsequent explosion (bass drum) signals the beginning of the race. The "race theme" is a derivative of the festival theme, but is much more agitated suggesting the excitement and commotion of the event. Underneath the agitation, the river theme emerges. Interrupting the race is a chromatic motive heard in the tuba and low woodwinds, which is an attempt to emulate the so-called "feeders" who bring food and water out to the racers at selected points of the race route. The race concludes with three distinct articulations of a Bb major chord. A slow, grandioso fanfare in the brass ensues to suggest the ceremony for the winners. A rousing coda follows alluding to celebration and festivity.

- Program Note from publisher


Commercial Discography


Media


State Ratings

  • Michigan: Senior High A


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Central Michigan University (Mount Pleasant) University Band (Amanda Fornshell, conductor) – 2 March 2017


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Gillingham, D. (2002) AuSable River Festival [score]. C. Alan Publications: Greensboro, N.C.