Celebration
General Info
Year: 1993
Duration: c. 11:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Studio Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $204.00 | Score Only - $24.50
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo (doubling Flute III)
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
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-III
Euphonium I-II
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bongo
- Crash Cymbal
- Glockenspiel
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tambourine
- Tenor Drum
- Triangle
- Tubular Bells
- Vibraphone
- Whip
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Celebration was commissioned by the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. They gave the premier at the Matsue Plover Hall in Japan on June 11, 1992. The work celebrates the incredible virtuosity of the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, the optimism of the human spirit, and the glorious results that can be achieved when musicians play together towards a common good, a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts.
- Program Note from Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music
The piece opens with a sonorous fanfare from the brass. This is repeated against interpolations from high woodwinds. Eventually the texture thins and a solo flute introduces a new, tender theme. This builds through the band until the original fanfare reappears. But this loses its confidence and is dispelled by an off-stage flourish from the trumpets, which introduces a more sinister element.
The Presto arrives, with a brass figure derived from the opening fanfare and running passages in the winds. A robust trumpet tune introduces the main theme of the Presto in the high winds. This is taken up by the whole band, and a bridge passage derived from elements of this theme leads to a climax, after which the horns introduce a new chordal fanfare, followed by the trumpets. The earlier bridge passage leads us back to a recapitulation of the main themes from the Presto. But the brass reintroduce the chordal fanfare against the main woodwind theme. From this point, the piece gains momentum into an extended Coda which introduces new material until a series of strident chords bring it to a crashing close.
- Program notes from score
Media
- Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
- Audio CD: College of New Jersey Wind Ensemble (William H. Silvester, conductor) - 1998
State Ratings
- Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
- Louisiana: V
- North Carolina: VI
- Virginia: VI
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.) Wind Orchestra (Richard Clary, conductor) – 24 April 2019
- University of Kentucky (Lexington) Symphony Band (George Boulden, conductor) - 16 September 2018
- University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) Wind Ensemble (Travis J. Cross, conductor) – 6 November 2017
- University of Texas, Arlington, Wind Symphony (Douglas Stotter, conductor) - 9 February 2017 (2017 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
- University of North Texas (Denton) Symphony Band (Dennis W. Fisher, conductor) - 20 October 2016
- University of Florida (Gainesville) Symphonic Band (John M. Watkins, conductor) – 20 February 2016 (CBDNA 2016 Southern Division Conference, Charleston, S.C.)
- University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Wind Ensemble (John R. Locke, conductor) – 19 February 2016
- Charleston (S.C.) Southern University Wind Symphony (Marshall Forrester, conductor) – 19 February 2016 (CBDNA 2016 Southern Division Conference, Charleston, S.C.)
- University of Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown, PEI) Wind Symphony (Karem J. Simon, conductor) - November 2013
- West Texas A&M University (Canyon) Symphonic Band (Russell Teweleit, conductor) - 2012
- United States Air Force Band of the Golden West (Fairfield, Calif.) (R. Michael Mench, conductor) – 22 March 2008 (CBDNA 2008 Western/Northwestern Division Conference, Reno, Nev.)
- University of Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown, PEI) Wind Symphony (Karem J. Simon, conductor) - 27 March 2003
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Atlantic Odyssey (2010)
- Bacchanalia (2019/2020)
- Ballad for Benny (2001)
- The Bandwagon (2004)
- Barn Dance and Cowboy Hymn (1985)
- Beethoven's Greeting (2008)
- Between the Two Rivers (2003)
- Big Sky Overture (2002)
- Blazon (2010)
- A Bluegrass Overture (2017)
- Bohemian Rhapsody (as arranger) (1975/2011)
- Bolero (as arranger) (1928/2011)
- Cambridge Intrada (2007)
- The Camelot Chronicles (2007)
- Carnival (1997)
- Carol of the Shepherds (2001)
- Celebration (1993)
- The Centurion (1988/2000)
- Chorale and Variations (2004)
- Clarinet Calypso (2003)
- Clarinet Concerto (2003)
- Colditz March (as arranger) (1972/2014)
- Colorado Springs (2007)
- A Colour Symphony (2015)
- Concert Prelude (1976/2000)
- Concertino Classico (2010)
- Dance Movements (1995)
- Dance of the Whale (2013/2014), from Bestiarium
- David of the White Rock (as arranger) (1741/2003)
- Deserts (2008)
- Diamond Concerto (2012)
- Diversions (1999)
- Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes (as arranger) (1790/2011)
- The Earl of Oxford's Marche (as arranger) (1581–91/2006)
- Earth, Water, Sun, Wind (2000)
- An English Sea Song Suite (2006)
- Euphonium Concerto No. 2 (2005)
- Exultation (2010)
- Fanfare for Saint Cecilia (2008)
- Fanfare, Romance and Finale (1990)
- Fantasy for Euphonium (1995)
- A Festive Tribute (J.S. Bach) (2007)
- Fiesta! (1998)
- Fiesta de la Vida (2005/2006)
- Five Festive Fanfares (2000)
- Flowerdale (2002/2010)
- Flying the Breeze (2002/2004)
- The Four Noble Truths (2003/2004)
- Four Norfolk Dances (2001)
- Gemini Concerto (2017/2019)
- Girl with the Flaxen Hair, The (as arranger) (1910/2007)
- Hail the Dragon! (2010)
- Harlequin (2004)
- Hanover Festival (2000)
- A Huntingdon Celebration (2003)
- In Memoriam: For the Fallen (2015)
- Infinity and Beyond... (2001)
- Invictus (2001)
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (as arranger) (1723/2004)
- Jubilee Overture (1983)
- Jubiloso (2008/2009)
- A Klezmer Karnival (2004)
- The Land of the Long White Cloud (1980/1988)
- Letter from Home (2008)
- A Lindisfarne Rhapsody (1998)
- The Long Day Closes (as arranger) (1868/2007)
- MacArthur Park (as arranger) (1967/2005)
- Madrigalum (2006)
- Måndalen Landscapes (2004)
- Manhattan (2004)
- Marchissimo (2004)
- Mary's Boy Child (as arranger) (1956/2003)
- Masquerade (2003)
- Merry-Go-Round (2002)
- Morning Song (2002)
- Mountain Song (1990/1993)
- Music for a Festival (1985)
- Music of the Spheres (2004)
- Navigation Inn (2000)
- North Hills Fantasy (2021)
- Of Skies, Rivers, Lakes, and Mountains (2012/2013)
- Once in Royal David’s City (as arranger) (1849/2004)
- Orient Express (1987/1994)
- Out of the Darkness, Into the Light (2003)
- Overture for Woodwinds (2000)
- The Painted Desert (2004)
- Panis Angelicus (as arranger) (1872/2001)
- Pantomime (1988/1996)
- Pastime with Good Company (as arranger) (15--?/2005)
- Pentangle (2021)
- The Pioneers (2005)
- A Pittsburgh Overture (1992)
- Portrait of a City (2002)
- Postcard from Singapore (2004)
- Prelude to a Celebration (2007)
- A Quiet Moment (2007)
- Reflections (2011)
- Reflections on an Old Japanese Folk Song (2015)
- Rhythm and Blues (arr. Wheeler) (1986/2012)
- The Roaring Forties (2008)
- Sailing with the Tall Ships (2012)
- Salute to a Hero (2009)
- A Savannah Symphony (2010)
- Scenes from a Comedy (2007)
- The Seasons (2005)
- Shalom! (2001)
- Sierra Nevada (2006)
- Sinfonietta No. 1 (1990)
- Sinfonietta No. 2 (1992)
- Sinfonietta No. 3 (2001)
- Sinfonietta No. 4 (2012)
- Sinfonietta No. 5 (2021)
- Sleepers, Awake! (as transcriber) (1731/2002)
- Slipstream (1987/1990)
- Snow Valley Sleigh Ride (2007)
- Song and Dance (arr. Brand) (1984/2009)
- Song of Friendship (2017)
- The Song of the Bell (2012)
- Sounds of the Saint Lawrence (2008)
- Spirit of the Sequoia (2004)
- St. Paul's Suite (as arranger) (1912–13/2017)
- Strathcarron (2002)
- Suite from Hymn of the Highlands (2002)
- Summer Isles (2002/2006)
- The Sun Will Rise Again (2011)
- Sunrise at Angel's Gate (2001)
- Symphonic Metamorphosis (2007)
- Symphony No. 1. See: Earth, Water, Sun, Wind
- Symphony No. 2. See: A Savannah Symphony
- Symphony No. 3. See: A Colour Symphony
- Tales of the River Wye (2007)
- Tallis' Canon (arr. Sparke) (/2012)
- A Tameside Overture (1989)
- Te Deum Prelude (as arranger) (1688–98/2001)
- Ten Chorale Preludes (as arranger) (1914/2002)
- Theatre Music (1989)
- Three English Folk Song Miniatures (2013)
- Three Extraordinary Journeys (2006)
- Three Klezmer Miniatures (2009)
- Three Washington Statues (2015)
- To a New Dawn (2000)
- To a Wild Rose (as arranger) (1896/2002)
- Tokyo Triptych (2007)
- Trombone Concerto (2007)
- Tuba Concerto (2007)
- The Unknown Journey (2014)
- Valerius Variations (2005)
- Variations on a Fourth (2019/2022)
- Veni Immanuel (2003)
- Watch Your Step! (2017)
- A Weekend in New York (2008)
- The White Rose (2002)
- Wind in the Reeds (2017)
- Wilten Festival Overture (1999)
- A Winter's Tale (2010)
- Year of the Dragon (1984/1985)
- Year of the Dragon (2017 edition) (1984/1985/2017)
- A Yorkshire Overture (1991)
Resources
- Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Philip Sparke." Accessed 27 December 2016
- Philip Sparke website
- Sparke, P. (1993). Celebration [score]. Studio Music: London.