Festival Variations

Claude T. Smith

Claude T. Smith

General Info

Year: 1982
Duration: c. 10:30
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Wingert-Jones Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $125.00   |   Score Only (print) - $40.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
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-III-IV
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Piano
Harp
Percussion, including:

• Bass Drum
• Bells
• Chimes
• Crash Cymbals
• Snare Drum
• Suspended Cymbal
• Tam-tam
• Tambourine
• Triangle
• Vibraphone
• Xylophone (3.5 octaves)

Cello (optional)

Errata

• Timpani. m.237: “rit.”should begin on beat 3.
  
• Percussion. m.6: all notes should have an accent; 5th eighth note should also have “sf” (as in the meas. before).
  
• Percussion. m.19, 5th eighth note: “sf” should read “sff” and be centered under the note.
  
• Percussion. m.37: last eighth note should have an accent.
  
• Percussion. m.38: rewrite the measure with 6 eighth notes and no accent (like meas. 25; not a repeat of meas. 27).
  
• Percussion. m.115, beat 4: (chimes) sfz should read sf.
  
• Percussion. m.164, beat 6: (xylophone): B natural should read B-flat.
  
• Percussion. m.170: (gong) accent missing.
  
• Percussion. m.259 (6th repeated measure): add an additional measure of repeat which will become meas. 260.
  
• Percussion. m.270, lower system: identify top line as triangle, 2nd space as snare drum.
  

Program Notes

Premiered at the 75th anniversary of the MENC in San Antonio by the United States Air Force Band who commissioned it, the composition met with immediate and overwhelming acceptance. Festival Variations with its brilliant technical passages coupled with its glorious romanticism will certainly rank as one of the monumental compositions of the 20th century"...Arnald Gabriel, Col (Ret.) Commander/Conductor, The United States Air Force Band. Although difficult, many of the finer bands throughout the world have added this great work to their repertoire and perform it regularly.

- Program Note from publisher

Media

• Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
• Audio: Reference Recording. U.S. Army Field Band (Thomas H. Palmatier, conductor)
• Audio CD: Tokyo Geidai Wind Orchestra (Masahiro Yamamoto, conductor) – 2015
• Audio CD:Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra (Arnald Gabriel, conductor) – 2008

State Ratings

• Alabama: Class AA
• California: VI Class AA
• Georgia: VI
• Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
• Louisiana: V
• Minnesota: Category 1
• Mississippi: IV-A, V-A, VI-A
• North Carolina: VI
• South Carolina: VI
• Tennessee: VI
• Virginia: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• Chicago Wind Symphony (Chicago, Ill.) (Michael McCain, conductor) - 7 January 2023
• Florida State University (Tallahassee) Wind Ensemble (David Plack, conductor) - 8 November 2022
• Purdue University (West Lafayette, Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Jay Gephart, conductor) - 22 April 2022
• Youngstown (Ohio) State University Wind Ensemble (Stephen L. Gage, conductor) – 29 January 2020
• Wartburg College (Waverly, Iowa) Wind Ensemble (Craig A. Hancock, conductor) – 2 November 2019
• Youngstown (Ohio) State University Wind Ensemble (Stephen L. Gage, conductor) – 21 October 2019
• Northwest Wind Symphony (Centralia, Wash.) (Dan Schmidt, conductor) – 13 April 2019
• University of Louisiana Monroe Wind Ensemble (Derle R. Long, conductor) – 26 February 2019
• California All-State High School Wind Symphony (Anthony Maiello, conductor) – 16 February 2019 (2019 CASMEC Conference, Fresno)
• Kennesaw (Ga.) State University Win Symphony (Debra Traficante, conductor) – 12 December 2018
• Wind Symphony of Clovis (Calif.) (Gary Gilroy, conductor) – 29 April 2018
• Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh, Penn.) Wind Ensemble (George Vosburgh, conductor) – 3 April 2018
• Wind Symphony of Clovis (Calif.) (Gary P. Gilroy, conductor) – 18 March 2018 (2018 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
• Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Wind Ensemble (John Stanley Ross, conductor) – 29 September 2017
• Indiana University Symphonic Band (Eric Smedley, conductor) – 10 February 2015
• Utah Wind Symphony (Salt Lake City) (Scott Hagan, conductor) – 20 December 2014 (2014 Midwest Clinic)
• California State Fresno Wind Orchestra (Gary Gilroy, conductor) – 4 October 2012
• Banda Sinfónica del Centro Musical Paternense (LLorenç Mendoza, conductor) – September 2011
• Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah) Wind Symphony (Donald L. Peterson, conductor) – 13 March 2010 (CBDNA 2010 Western/Northwestern Division Conference (Reno, Nev.)
• United States Army Field Band (Washington, D.C.) (Thomas H. Palmatier, conductor) – 17 December 2008 (2008 Midwest Clinic)
• United States Air Force Band (Washington, D.C.) (Arnald Gabriel, conductor) – 19 February 1982 (1982 TMEA Conference, San Antonio) *Premiere Performance*

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

• Avondale Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1986/2020)
• Castlebrook Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1985/1996/2021)
• Declaration Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1976/2020)
• Dramatic Prelude (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1966/1994/2021)
• Emperata Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1964/1992/2020)
• Stone Mountain Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1984/2021)

All Wind Works

• Acclamation (1969)
• Across the Wide Missouri
• Affirmation and Credo
• Allegheny Portrait
• Allegro and Intermezzo
• America the Beautiful (as arranger) (1882/1983)
• American Folk Song Trilogy
• Anthem for Winds and Percussion (1978)
• Avondale Overture (1986)
• Avondale Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1986/2020)
• Bainbridge Fair
• The Battle Hymn of the Republic (as arranger) (1861/1982/1997)
• Beguine on a Brazilian Folk Song (1984/1998)
• Black Watch March
• Bombasto (as editor) (1895/1985/1998)
• Boys of the Old Brigade (as editor)
• Bulgarian Folk Dance (1983)
• Canticle: All Creatures of Our God and King
• Castlebrooke Overture (1985/1996)
• Castlebrook Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1985/1996/2021)
• Chorale and Allegro (1968/1996)
• Chorale and Fugato (1989)
• Chorale Prelude on a German Hymn Tune
• Chorale Prelude: All Things Bright and Beautiful (as arranger) (1848/1985)
• Chorale Prelude: For the Beauty of the Earth (as arranger) (1859/1984)
• Chorale Prelude: Rejoice Ye Pure in Heart
• Citation March (1959)
• Commemoration Fanfare and Chorale (1985)
• Concert Celebration
• Concert Dance and Intermezzo
• Concert Piece (1980/2020)
• Concert Suite for Low Brass (/ 2016)
• Concert Variations
• Credence
• Cresset Variations
• Dance Prelude
• Danse Folâtre (1991)
• Danza Sonora
• Declaration Overture (1976)
• Declaration Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1976/2020)
• Distant Trumpet, The
• Dramatic Prelude (1966/1994)
• Dramatic Prelude (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1966/1994/2021)
• Emperata Overture (1964/1992)
• Emperata Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1964/1992/2020)
• Eternal Father, Strong to Save (1860/1975)
• Fanfare, Ballad and Jubilee
• Fantasia for Alto Saxophone (1983)
• Fantasy for Trumpet (1967)
• Festival Variations (1982)
• Festive Proclamation
• Flight (1985)
• Flourish and Hymn of Praise (1981/1994)
• Gala XXV (1982/1991/2000)
• Galop Humoresque (1985)
• God of Our Fathers (as arranger) (1876/1974)
• Golden Regiment (1987)
• Greensleeves (1979)
• Harry S. Truman (1996)
• Honor Guard March (1959/2017)
• Horizons West
• Hymn to Saint Avold
• Incidental Suite (1966)
• Indiana State Band March (as editor) (1896/1986)
• Inscriptions for Band
• Intrada: Adoration and Praise
• Introduction and Caccia
• Introduction and Fugato (1979/1989)
• Invocation and Jubiloso
• Island Fiesta
• Joyance (1977)
• Jubilant Prelude
• Jubilee for Winds
• Jubilesta
• Jubilo, a Concert Overture
• Legacy for Band
• March on a Scottish Air
• March on an Irish Air (1978/1996)
• March Spiritoso
• Meramec Rhapsody (1986)
• Moresca (1980)
• O Come, O Come Emmanuel
• Overture for a Festival
• Overture for Winds and Percussion. See: Emperata Overture
• Overture on an Early American Folk Hymn
• Overture Romantique
• Oxford Point Overture
• Peter Schmoll (as arranger)
• Prelude and Toccata
• Prelude for Band (1972)
• Prelude Variations
• Raise Your Voice In Song
• Rejoice in Glorious Hope
• A Rhapsody on Christmas Carols (1987)
• Rondo for Trumpet
• Royal Lancer
• Santiago Carnival (1980)
• Serenade and Dance
• Shenandoah: A Sea Fantasy
• Silver Salutation
• Sonus Ventorum (1970)
• Spirit of Texas
• Star Song (1986/1996)
• Stone Mountain Overture (1984)
• Stone Mountain Overture (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Earp) (1984/2021)
• Suite for Solo Flute, Clarinet and Alto Saxophone (1987/2002)
• Summer in Rio (1981)
• Sunbird
• Symphonic March on an English Hymn Tune (1985/1994)
• Symphonic Prelude on "Adeste Fidelis" (1983)
• Symphonic Psalm (1979)
• Symphonic Variations on "In Dulci Jubilo"
• Symphonic Variations on "Amazing Grace" (1987)
• Symphony No. 1 for Band (1979)
• A Thousand Hills Overture (1980)
• Three Contrasts for Horn and Wind Ensemble (1977/1994)
• Variations on a Hymn by Louis Bourgeois (1984)
• Variations on a Revolutionary Hymn
• Variations on an English Folk Song (1981)
• Variations on an English Hymn
• The Water Is Wide
• Were You There When They Crucified My Lord (Four Symphonic Chorales)
• Windgate Festival
• Windstar
• World Freedom March
• Zia, Zia!

Resources

• Claude T. Smith website
• Flaten, Tormod. "Expert's Excerpts: Claude T. Smith's Festival Variations." ITEA Journal [International Tuba Euphonium Association] 43, no. 4 (Summer 2016), pp. 63-64.
• Smith, C. (1982). Festival Variations [score]. Wingert-Jones: Kansas City, Mo.
• Walker, Joshua Daniel. Compositional Innovations in Claude T. Smith's Masterworks for the United States Air Force Band. 2020. University of Alabama, DMA dissertation.