Festive Overture, A

Alfred Reed

Alfred Reed

The work bears the subtitle “For Concert Band.”

General Info

Year: 1963
Duration: c. 8:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: J.W. Pepper
Cost: Score and Parts - $115.00   |   Score Only - $7.50

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Eb Clarinet
Bb Clarinet I-II-III
Eb Alto Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Bb Contra Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone I-II
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Cornet(in Bb) I-II
Trumpet (in Bb) I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Baritone(Bass Clef & Treble Clef)
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:

• Bass Drum
• Snare Drum
• Cymbals
• Bells
• Xylophone
• Triangle

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

A Festive Overture was commissioned by the Tri-State Festival, held annually under the auspices of the Music Division of Dickinson State College in Dickinson, North Dakota, for performance at the 1963 Festival. The first performance took place on November 2nd, 1963, at the concluding Grand Concert of the Festival, with the Dickinson State College Symphonic Band under the composer's direction.

The score is in traditional overture form, a brilliant opening allegro followed by a reflective, lyrical interlude, and concluding with a return to the first themes and mood. The entire work is built on three motifs, which are heard in the first section, with the middle section developed from one of these, which first appears as the bass line to the main theme. In the course of the work, the full resources of the modern, integrated concert band are called upon, to present these motifs in constantly varied forms and combinations, and in scintillating tone colors.

The wording of the commission presented a basic challenge: that of writing a major work on the highest musical level and yet capable of performance by a good high school band. We believe that this challenge has been met, and are proud to offer this work as a contribution to the modern school and concert band repertoire.

-Notes by the publisher

Commercial Discography

• Audio CD: Royal Artillery Band (Terry Davis, Conductor)

State Ratings

• Alabama: Band Class AA
• California: Grade V Class A
• Florida: FBA Band Grade V
• Georgia: Georgia Band Grade V
• Iowa: IHSMA Band Grade IV
• Indiana: ISSMA Senior Band Group I
• Louisiana: Band 2011 Grade IV
• Michigan: Senior High Class B
• Minnesota: Band Grade II, Category 2
• North Carolina: Concert Band Grade V
• South Carolina: Band Grade V
• Tennessee: Grade V
• Virginia: Concert Band Grade V

Recent Performances

• Carrollton Wind Symphony (Jim Moen, conductor) - 08 Mar 2013

Additional Works for Winds by this Composer

• Alleluia Laudamus Te
• Armenian Dances, Part One
• Armenian Dances, Part Two
• Celebration Fanfare, A
• Chanson Triste
• Christmas Intrada, A
• Clear Track Polka
• Concertino for Marimba and Winds
• Curtain Up! (A Theater Overture for Winds)
• Danza Caribe
• Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness
• Divertimento for Flute and Winds
• El Camino Real
• Festival Prelude (1962)
• Festive Overture, A (1963)
• Fifth Suite for Band (1995)
• First Suite for Band (1975)
• Fourth Suite for Band
• Funiculi, Funicula
• Giligia (A Song of Remembrance)
• Golden Year, The
• Greensleeves
• Hounds Of Spring, The
• Hymn Variants
• Imperatrix
• Jubilant Overture, A
• King of Love My Shepherd Is, The
• Little Concert Suite, A
• Millennium III
• Mr. Music
• Northern Legend, A
• Othello (1977)
• Praise Jerusalem
• Prelude IV
• Punchinello
• Radetzky
• Rahoon
• Ramparts of Courage, The
• Rushmore
• Russian Christmas Music (1944)
• Second Century
• Second Suite for Band
• Silver Shadow (Concert March)
• Siciliana Notturno (1977)
• Sixth Suite for Band
• Slavonic Folk Suite
• Springtime Celebration, A
• Symphonic Prelude Based on Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair
• Symphony No. 3
• Symphony No. 4
• Sumus Futuro
• Tarantella
• Third Suite For Band
• Three Revelations from the Lotus Sutra
• Thunder and Lightning
• Two Bagatelles for Concert Band
• Vilia
• Viva Musica
• With Trumpets And Drums

Additional Resources

None discovered thus far.