On Winged Flight
From Wind Repertory Project
Contents |
General Info
Year: 1989
Duration: 13:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Associated Music Publisher
Cost: Score & Parts - $90.00 | Score Only - $15.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II-III (II doubling Piccolo - III doubling Piccolo/Alto Flute)
Oboe
English Horn
Bassoon I-II (II doubling Contrabassoon)
Eb Soprano Clarinet
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
Eb Alto Clarinet (doubling Contrabass Clarinet)
Bb Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone I-II
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Cornet (in Bb) I-II-III
Trumpet (in Bb) I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium I-II
Tuba I-II
Cello (3)
String Bass
Timpani
Harp
Piano/Celeste
Percussion I-II, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bell Tree
- Claves
- Cowbell
- Cymbals (antique, sizzle, and small, medium, and large suspended)
- Drumset
- Glockenspiel
- Gong (Tam-tam)
- Gourd
- Snare Drum
- Tambourine
- Tom-Toms (2)
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
- Whistle
- Woodblock
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
On Winged Flight, a divertimento for band, was composed on a commission from the United States Air Force Band and is dedicated to their conductor, Lt. Col. James Michael Bankhead. The premiere took place on April 3, 1989 at the Annual American Bandmasters Association Conference at Florida State University in Tallahassee.
In contrast to some of my other band or wind ensemble works, my Divertimento is - as the name implies - a more light-hearted work, although, just as in Mozart's Divertimenti, it has its "serious" moments, even "serious" movements.
The five-movement composition begins with a sprightly Vivace introductory movement, entitled "Prelude", setting the overall lively tone of the work with its cascading woodwind figures, brassy syncopations, and unexpected contrasts.
The second movement, "Pastorale", sets a solo alto saxophone in reiterative lyric phrases against a delicate pointillistic web-like woodwind, muted brass, and light percussion background. Jackson Pollack's pointillistic "drip method", setting off foreground objects against multi-colored fragmented backgrounds, comes to mind as an analogy of the visual arts.
The mood becomes more serious in the third movement, "Nocturne", a somber rather dark-colored piece, featuring instruments such as bass and contrabass clarinets, contrabassoon, and low brass. Here, too, I was able to use the three cellos that are an unusual feature of the Air Force Band's instrumentation.
The fourth movement, "Scherzo", exploits the virtuosic capacities of the wind ensemble, additionally bringing in the colors of the piano and harp. There is a lively rhythmic and harmonic interplay between the different choirs of the ensemble. The "Scherzo's" light, agitated, mercurial discource ends quite abruptly in a quiet sustained chord.
The last movement, "Parody", carries the following legend: "with a respectful bow to Messrs. Charles Ives, James Reese Europe, and Henry Fillmore." "Parody" is a wild melange of these early band manifestations - including many of their most endearing cliches treated in an Ivesian "take-off" fashion, thereby bringing the whole work to an engaging, dazzling conventional "fun" climax.
Program Note by Gunther Schuller
Commercial Discography
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Recent Performances
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Additional Works for Winds by this Composer
- Blue Dawn Into White Heat
- Bright and Sassy
- Diptych for Brass Quintet and Concert Band
- Double Quintet for Wind and Brass Quintets
- Eine Kleine Posaunenmusik
- Fanfare for St Louis
- Jumpin' in the Future
- Lines and Contrasts
- Meditation
- Nature's Way
- Refrains
- Song and Dance
- Study in Textures
- Symphony No. 3, "In Praise of Winds"
- Tear Drop
- Transformation
- Tre Invenzioni for Chamber Ensembles
- Symphony for Brass and Percussion
Additional Resources
None discovered thus far.
