Marchas de Arraial

From Wind Repertory Project
Nelson Jesus

Nelson Jesus


This work bears the designation Opus 8.


General Info

Year: 2008 / 2010
Duration: c. 12:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Nelson Jesus
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown


Movements

1. Procissão no Alcatrão - 7:35
2. Marcha de Coreto - 6:30


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn (optional)
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon (optional)
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet (optional)
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone I-II
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Bass Saxophone (optional)
B-flat Cornet/Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium I-II
Tuba I-II
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-VI, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Castanets
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Field Drum
  • Glockenspiel
  • Hi-Hat
  • Marimba
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Tam-Tam
  • Triangle
  • Tubular Bells
  • Vibraphone
  • Vibra-slap
  • Whip
  • Wood Block
  • Xylophone

Violincello (optional)


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

I wanted to perpetuate an alliance between the past and the present. I wanted to get away from an easy and tempting path, the commercial and artificial way that is far beyond the Portuguese traditional flavor of codfish, olives and bread. I remember that when I was watching recordings of the famous Japanese bands contests, one peculiar thing caught my attention: required pieces were always in the form of a march, march rhythms, something that will forever be associated with the bands genesis. Therefore, my starting point for this work was the traditional "concert march.” That was what I set out in the following score; however, I tried to go further. Wow? Simulating the habitual pilgrimage and a summer festivity. This set of two movements is called Marchas de Arraial (folk marches).

The first movement, as the name indicates, is a procession. In the Portuguese festive tradition, bands accompany the priest at a religious procession. There is no summer party without a procession, and it is at this time that the villagers really see the band, notice their uniforms, comment on the musicians, and imitate the instruments.

This is on an asphalted, tarmac road, in a modern and really hot environment; the band is roasting in the sun heat. The snare drum is marking the beat, the bass drum gives the warning signal, there are already wrong notes but no one notices. This walk is painful and there is no water (or cold beer). We hear the church bells. Pay attention; the bass drum will tell us when to stop.

The second movement is after a pause for distraction. The fanfare plays first and then the band will play its march on the coreto (traditional bandstand). Folk rhythms and popular harmony modulates it as if to enrich its color. There are other instruments, the younger band members study harder. "The march has rhythm," says Joe with his red wine glass in the hand, but “ it’s a different march form the past years”.

This work was written during the summer of 2008. This score is the result of a revision in April 2010 for the Banda Sinfónica da Guarda Nacional Republicana, GNR (Symphonic National Guard Band) at the request of his conductor, Captain João Afonso Cerqueira.

- Program Note by composer


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • World Adult Wind Orchestra Project (WAWOP) (Schladming, Aus.) (Paulo Martins, conductor) - 17 July 2022
  • Banda Sinfónica da GNR (João Cerqueira, conductor) – 27 March 2011 *Premiere Performance*


Works for Winds by this Composer

Adaptable Music


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