Festivo (Gregson)

From Wind Repertory Project
Edward Gregson

Edward Gregson


General Info

Year: 1985 / 1987
Duration: c. 5:25
Difficulty: V (See Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Novello and Company Limited
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $150.00   |   Score Only (print) - $25.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
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 Contralto Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bongos
  • Chimes
  • Claves
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Glockenspiel
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tam-tam
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Festivo for Symphonic Wind Band was commissioned in 1985 for the 10th Anniversary of the Bolton Youth Concert Band with funds provided by the Trustee Savings Bank. It received its first performance from the Bolton Youth Concert Band, conducted by Nigel Taylor, at the Conference of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles (WASBE) in Kortrijk, Belgium, in July 1985.

As the title suggests, it is a festive piece, exuberant in style and cast in rondo form. An introduction announces, in fragmented form, some of the melodic and rhythmic ideas. The main theme, which is light-hearted and exuberant, is then announced on clarinets but is immediately tossed around the band. The first episode is lyrical in mood with a variation of earlier material passed from one wind soloist to another, whilst the second episode starts quietly but gradually adds layer upon layer of repeated ostinato, rather in the manner of ‘minimalist’ technique, until the whole band eventually joins in (with important parts for melodic percussion here).

The final statement of the rondo tune is heralded by bell-like chords on the brass with tubular bells adding colour. This leads to a short but triumphant coda (with melodic percussion again prominent). Throughout there is much emphasis on changing time patterns and asymmetric rhythms with the scoring utilising solo and chamber-like textures.

Festivo has become a standard repertoire piece in many countries and is one of the composer’s most popular and most frequently performed works.

- Program Note by composer


Media


State Ratings

  • Alabama: Band Class A
  • Georgia: VI
  • Iowa: V
  • Indiana: ISSMA HIGH SCHOOL BAND GROUP I
  • Louisiana: V
  • Maryland: V
  • Massachusetts: V
  • Michigan: Senior High Band Class A
  • Minnesota: Category I
  • Mississippi: Band Class 6A
  • North Carolina: VI
  • New York: VI
  • Oklahoma: CONCERT BAND CLASS 5A
  • South Carolina: VI
  • Tennessee: VI
  • Texas: V
  • Virginia: V


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Artie Henry Middle School (Cedar Park, Tx.) Honors Band (Robert Herrings, conductor) – 9 February 2024 (2024 TMEA Conference, San Antonio)
  • Florida All-State High School Honors Band | FMEA Conference (Ted Shistle, conductor) - 13 January 2024
  • Marquette University (Milwaukee, Wisc.) Wind Ensemble (Erik Janners, conductor) - 1 October 2023
  • University of Illinois (Champaign) Campus Band (Michelle Bell, conductor) - 29 April 2023
  • Penn State University (University Park) Symphonic Band (Leila Gil, conductor) - 7 December 2022
  • University of Louisiana at Lafayette Wind Ensemble (William J. Hochkeppel, conductor) - 19 October 2022
  • University of Utah (Salt Lake City) Wind Ensemble (Rebekah Daniel, conductor) - 1 March 2022
  • Rutgers University (New Brunswick, N.J.) Symphonic Winds (Todd Nichols, conductor) - 25 February 2022
  • University of Texas at Arlington Wind Symphony (Christopher Evans, conductor) - 9 May 2021
  • University of Texas at Tyler Wind Ensemble (Jeffrey Emge, conductor) - 27 February 2020
  • Penn State University (University Park) Symphonic Band (Dennis Glocke, conductor) – 26 February 2020
  • Salt Lake Symphonic Winds (Salt Lake City, Utah) (Thomas P. Rohrer, conductor) – 26 November 2019
  • James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Symphonic Band (Stephen Bolstad, conductor) – 18 November 2019
  • University of North Dakota (Bismarck) Wind Ensemble (James Popejoy, conductor) – 8 October 2019
  • University of Colorado Boulder Symphonic Band (Matthew Dockendorf, conductor)– 19 September 2019
  • Young Artists Wind Ensemble (Boston, Mass.) (David Martins, conductor) – 14 July 2019
  • University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Symphony Band (Phillip A. Ostrander, conductor) - 9 March 2019
  • University of California, Los Angeles, Wind Ensemble (Janet Kim, conductor) – 6 February 2019
  • Boston University (Mass.) Wind Ensemble (Jennifer Bill, conductor) – 19 October 2018
  • University of North Texas (Denton) Concert Band (Lauren Yacht, conductor) – 3 October 2018


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources