Magneticfireflies

From Wind Repertory Project
Augusta Read Thomas

Augusta Read Thomas


General Info

Year: 2001
Duration: c. 5:20
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: G. Schirmer
Cost: Score and Parts - $95.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Tuba
String Bass
Harp
Timpani
Percussion (4 players), including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Chimes
  • Crotales
  • Marimba
  • Orchestra Bells
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tam-Tam, large
  • Triangles (2)
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Magneticfireflies (2001) is a work that explores the gamut of timbral possibilities for the wind ensemble. Instrumental color and sound gesture become the driving force behind this work. From the initial trumpet entrance to the punctuated percussive elements, short musical ideas are passed throughout the ensemble, creating constant aural interest for the listener and a challenge for players. Dominated by brass bell tones, metallic percussion sounds, and flutter tonguing, the piece builds in intensity to a piercing unison finale.

Thomas describes Magneticfireflies as “very rhapsodic, lyrical, rich and majestic, but also quite playful. One of the main intentions of this music is the juxtaposition between stark, bold, individual colors, such as a loud solo trumpet, Mahler style, with a completely blended timbre, Debussy style.”

- Program Note from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Wind Ensemble concert program, 15 July 2015


Magneticfireflies is an essay in juxtaposition and synthesis. Augusta Read Thomas takes as her archetypes Gustav Mahler: for his stark, bold and individual orchestrational colors; and Claude Debussy: for his impressionistic timbres, wholly blended. The composer creates several compositional layers in this loosely organic form as “arguments” for juxtaposition: solo vs. ensemble, fanfare vs. lyricism, stasis vs. rhythmic activity, dynamic contrast, and contrasting articulation (including hosts of grace notes, flutter tongue, and trills). After the brief first statement, the individual contrasts begin a series of syntheses, taking on characteristics of their opponents. After the brief flute solo, there is a return of sorts, leading to a final synthesis in the coda.

- Program Note from State University of New York, Potsdam, Crane Wind Ensemble concert program, 24 February 2016


Awards


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Wind Ensemble (Martin I. Gaines, conductor) - 10 November 2023
  • Eastman School of Music (Rochester, N.Y.) Wind Orchestra (Zachary Griffin, conductor) - 8 November 2023
  • Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Mallory Thompson, conductor) - 17 February 2023
  • University of Connecticut (Storrs) Wind Ensemble (Janet Song Kim, conductor) - 13 October 2022
  • University of North Texas (Denton) Wind Ensemble (Joel Davidson, conductor) – 16 November 2021
  • University of Illinois (Champaign) Wind Orchestra (Beth Peterson, conductor) – 4 December 2019
  • University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Symphonic Band (Jonathan Caldwell, conductor) – 19 November 2019
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison Wind Ensemble (Scott Teeple, conductor) – 8 October 2019
  • Kent State (Ohio) Wind Ensemble (Jesse Leyva, conductor) – 3 March 2019
  • Shenandoah Conservatory (Winchester, Va.) Wind Ensemble (Timothy Robblee, conductor) - 2 March 2019
  • University of Cincinnati (Ohio) College-Conservatory of Music Wind Symphony (Kevin Michael Holzman, conductor) – 28 November 2018
  • Belmont University (Nashville, Tenn.) Wind Ensemble (Barry Kraus, conductor) – 5 October 2018
  • U.S. Air Force Band of the Golden West (Sacramento, Calif.) (Vu Nguyen, conductor) - 17 February 2018 (2018 CASMEC Conference, San Jose)
  • University of Missouri, Kansas City, Wind Ensemble (Joseph Parisi, conductor) – 18 October 2017
  • University of Maryland (College Park) Wind Ensemble (Brian Coffill, conductor)- 17 October 2017
  • University of Georgia (Athens) Hodgson Wind Ensemble (Matthew Sadowski, conductor) – 4 April 2017
  • Indiana University (Bloomington) Symphonic Band (Eric M. Smedley, conductor) – 8 November 2016
  • University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) Concert Band (Courtney Snyder, conductor) – 11 April 2016
  • The SUNY Potsdam (N.Y.) Crane Wind Ensemble (Brian Doyle, conductor) – 11 March 2016 (CBDNA 2016 Eastern Division Conference, New London, Conn.)
  • University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Wind Ensemble (John A. Climer, conductor) – 15 July 2015 - WASBE Conference, San Jose, Calif.


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

  • The Horizon Leans Forward…, compiled and edited by Erik Kar Jun Leung, GIA Publications, 2021, p. 494-495.
  • Thomas, A. (2001). Magneticfireflies [score]. G. Schirmer: New York.