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Earth Song (flex)

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Frank Ticheli

Frank Ticheli


Subtitle: For Flex Band or Flex Orchestra


General Info

Year: 2012 / 2020
Duration: c. 3:15
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Manhattan Beach Music
Cost: Score and Parts (digital) - $50.00


Instrumentation (Flexible)

Full Score
Voice 1

  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • B-flat Trumpet
  • Violin

Voice 2

  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone
  • B-flat Trumpet
  • Violin

Voice 3

  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • B-flat Trumpet
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone
  • Horn in F
  • Violin
  • Viola

Voice 4

  • Bassoon
  • B-flat Tenor Saxophone
  • Trombone
  • Euphonium
  • Horn in F
  • Cello

Voice 5

  • Bassoon
  • B-flat Bass Clarinet
  • E-flat Baritone Saxophone
  • Trombone
  • Euphonium
  • Tuba
  • String Bass

Percussion, including:

  • Glockenspiel
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Earth Song for concert band is the grandchild of Sanctuary for concert band. Almost as soon as I completed Sanctuary, I became intrigued by the idea of making a choral version of at least part of the work.

Within the same year, I realized this goal, inventing a poem that reflected the music’s poignant lyricism, fitting the rhythmic stresses and melodic contour of Sanctuary’s melody. Thus, Earth Song for chorus came to be.

Six years after composing Sanctuary, in 2012 I received an email from Frank Troyka, director of bands at Berkner High School in Richardson, Texas, inquiring if I might consider making a concert band version of Earth Song for one of his colleagues.

The irony of his request was not lost on either of us, but we both agreed that, in a sense, this full circle back to the music’s concert band origins would allow me to create a grandchild possessing the genetic strengths of both its ancestors: the rich textured lyricism and more concise nature of its choral forebear, combined with the wider color palette and expressive power of its concert band forebear.

Thus, Earth Song for concert band was born: a more concise (and less technically demanding) descendant of Sanctuary.

- Program Note from score of 2012 edition


With sweeping melodic lines and intense dynamic contrast, Frank Ticheli captures the gamut of emotion with this beautiful transcription for band. Originally composed for unaccompanied voices with his own text as inspiration and sampled works such as Sanctuary, Earth Song unites the power of words and images with melody, harmony, and dynamics to blend this work into a tonal analogue of emotive life. The following is an excerpt from Ticheli’s original text:

But music and singing have been my refuge,
And music and singing shall be my light.
A light of song, shining strong.
Through darkness and pain and strife, I’ll sing II be . . . Live . . .See.

Commissioned by and dedicated to the Faubion Middle School Band for its performance at the 2012 Midwest Clinic.

- Program note for 2012 edition by Faubion Middle School Symphonic I Band concert program, 20 December 2012


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Chamber Ensemble (Cody Arington, conductor) - 19 Aoril 2021
  • University of Iowa (Iowa City) University Band (Tyler Strickland, conductor) - 7 December 2020
  • Rowan University (Glassboro, N.J.) WindFest Honor Band (Joseph Higgins, conductor) - 22 November 2020
  • High Point (N.C.) University Wind Ensemble (Brian Meixner, conductor) - 18 November 2020


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

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