Blue Dawn into White Heat

From Wind Repertory Project
This work has been identified for inclusion in the Small Band Repertoire Initiative. You may find discussion of the work's challenges and merits under the Discussion tab above. You may also contribute your own thoughts and recommendations by joining the WRP.


Gunther Schuller

Gunther Schuller


General Info

Year: 1997
Duration: c. 7:30
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Mangun Music
Cost: Score and Parts - Rental


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II-III-IV
Oboe I-II-III
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III (I and II div.)
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone I-II
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV-V
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III-IV
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Guitar
Piano
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V-VI-VII-VIII

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbal
  • Drum Set
  • Glockenspiel
  • Marimba
  • Ratchet
  • Sizzle Cymbal (2)
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tam-tams (medium and low)
  • Tambourine
  • Tom-toms (3)
  • Triangle (medium)
  • Vibraphone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Blue Dawn into White Heat is perhaps the first (or at least one of the very few) jazz compositions written for concert band. It is therefore a piece not only with its own intrinsic musical merits, but one that also serves a certain educational, didactic purpose, i.e., teaching classical players something about jazz, modern jazz at that.

The work, in one continuous movement, is divided into three sections delineated by clearly discernible, ever-faster tempos as well as changing meters (3/4, 5/4, 7/4, 2/2). Although mostly written out (through-composed), the work does feature some brief improvisational episodes for trombone, tenor saxophone, and piano.

This title of the piece was suggested by Fred Harris, the conductor who commissioned the work through the Belmont (Mass.) High School.

- Program Note by composer


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

  • Perusal score
  • Schuller, G. (1997). Blue Dawn into White Heat [score]. Margun Music: [Newton Centre, Mass.].