Jug Blues and Fat Pickin'

From Wind Repertory Project

Don Freund

1 General Info
2 Instrumentation
3 Errata
4 Program Notes
5 Commercial Discography
6 State Ratings
7 Recent Performances
8 Additional Works for Winds by this Composer
9 Additional Resources

General Info

Year: 1986
Duration: c. 8:20
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Freundworks Publishing / MMB Music
Cost: Score and Parts (Rental), contact MMB Music | Score (Purchase) - $50

Instrumentation

Full Score
Piccolo I-II
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Eb Soprano Clarinet
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
Bb Bass Clarinet
Eb Contra-Alto Clarinet (optional)
Alto Saxophone I-II
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet (in Bb) I-II-III
French Horn I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

Bongos
Pie Pan
Slit Wood Drum
Tom-Tom (small, medium)

(Percussion list is incomplete)

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Jug Blues & Fat Pickin' was written in 1986 and revised in 1990. Originally commissioned for the celebration of Tennessee's "Homecoming'86," it is without peer in the wind band repertoire. Inspired by recording of the Memphis Jug Band, the most recorded and perhaps most popular of the jug bands to spring up on Memphis' Beale Street in the late 1920's, and bluegrass banjo pickin', Freund's composition is a unique musical offering that melds "blues elements" with minimalist technique.

The Blues should howl, whine, and wail like a harmonica solo, with the same freedom and indulgence one might hear in an unaccompanied blues improvisation. The entire Blues must have an unmetered cadenza-like quality. The Blues should never drag; the slowed-down sections must have great color and intensity of expression, whether sighing or wailing. The Pickin' doesn't need to be too fast, but has to have the kind of easy-going, self-gratifying, clear-headed virtuosity that characterized great pickers. The performer should communicate a spirit of good, clean, exuberant fun.

Program Note by Don Freund

Commercial Discography

Audio CD: Cincinnati Wind Symphony (Eugene Corporon, conductor)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Recent Performances

(To add performances, please contact the webmaster)

USAF Heartland of America Band (Captain Michael J. Willen, conductor) - 5 performances, 7-11 March 2008
Trinity University Symphonic Wind Ensemble (James Worman, conductor) - 28 February & 20 April 2008
University of Western Ontario Wind Ensemble (Colleen Richardson, conductor) - 27 March 2008
Kennesaw State University Band (Peter Witte, conductor) - 14 November 2007