Iditarod

From Wind Repertory Project
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Robert Buckley

Robert Buckley


Subtitle: Dog Sled Race

This work is the third movement of Buckley's Symphony No. 1, Portraits of the North.


General Info

Year: 2013
Duration: c. 5:25
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $75.00; (digital) - $75.00   |   Score Only (print) - $10.00


Instrumentation

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

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Gong
  • Marimba
  • Native Drum (or medium Tam-Tam)
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Commissioned by the West Vancouver Youth Band, this energetic programmatic movement (the third movement of Portraits of the North) captures the adventurous excitement of the Alaskan Iditarod (a 1,000-mile dog sled race) through the icy Alaskan tundra. The work possesses a very positive, infectious energy akin to background music from a superb action movie.

- Program Note from The Instrumentalist


The annual Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race between the Alaskan cities of Anchorage and Nome covers over 1000 challenging miles of jagged mountain ranges, dense forests and windswept coastlines. In cinematic fashion, the musical point of view cuts back and forth between the dogs' view and an eagle's, constantly moving forward with a relentless pulse. With a brief respite, a majestic, sweeping theme is introduced and develops, and then, back to the race! With renewed energy, the dogs run the final stretch; the music building and intensifying to the very end.

- Program Note from publisher


The Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race is an annual race across 1,049 miles of icy tundra and arctic wasteland. Between the Alaskan cities of Anchorage and Nome, jagged mountain ranges, dense alpine forests and windswept coastlines make the route some of the most challenging terrain in the world. This amazing feat of endurance was the inspiration for Iditarod.

The piece opens with a loud, short burst from the brass being sustained by a very quiet chord from the woodwinds, creating the idea of sound disappearing into an immense frozen landscape. One by one the musher teams are introduced and the race is under way. Quietly at first, the rhythmic feel builds and builds over a relentless 9/8 pulse. In cinematic fashion, the point of view cuts from long-shots to close-ups -- from the dog’s point of view to the eagle's point of view -- constantly moving forward. The terrain is challenging, the dogs are getting tired --and then, over the next hill -- a beautiful, icy landscape appears -- a moment of reflection and rest. The music slows. A lyrical, reverent theme is introduced and develops -- and then -- back to the race! With renewed energy, the dogs race the final stretch, the music building and intensifying, until … the finish line!

Iditarod was commissioned by the West Vancouver (B.C.) Youth Band, Douglas Macaulay, director, to commemorate the band's 80th anniversary.

- Program Note from score


Media


State Ratings

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