Passacaglia (Homage on B-A-C-H)

From Wind Repertory Project
Ron Nelson

Ron Nelson


General Info

Year: 1993 / 2021
Duration: c. 10:15
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: LudwigMasters Publications, through Alfred Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $175.00   |   Score Only (print) - $25.00


Instrumentation

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

  • Bass Drum
  • Bongos
  • Crotales
  • Glockenspiel
  • Marimba
  • Slap Stick
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbals (2)
  • Tam-tam
  • Temple Block
  • Tenor Drum
  • Tom-tom
  • Tubular Bells
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Passacaglia (Homage on B-A-C-H) is a set of continuous variations in moderately slow triple meter built on an eight-measure melody (basso ostinato) which is stated, in various registers, twenty-five times. It is a seamless series of tableux which move from darkness to light.

Written in homage to Johann Sebastian Bach, it utilizes, as counterpoint throughout, the melodic motive represented by his name in German nomenclature, i.e. B-flat, A, C, and B natural. Bach introduced this motive in his unfinished The Art of the Fugue, the textures of which are paraphrased (in an octatonic scale) in the fourth and fifth variations. The seventh variation incorporates Gustave Nottebohm’s resolution (altered) of the unfinished final fugue of The Art of Fugue. The famous melody from Bach’s Passacaglia in C minor appears once (also altered) in variation nineteen.

Passacaglia (Homage on B-A-C-H) was commissioned by the Eta-Omicron Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, The United States Air Force Band, and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, Wind Studies Department, in celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the founding of The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

- Program Note by composer


Awards


Media


State Ratings

  • Florida: VI
  • New York: VI
  • North Carolina: VI
  • South Carolina: VI


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • The Naperville (Ill.) Winds (Sean Kelley, conductor) - 12 October 2023
  • Luther College (Decorah, Iowa) Concert Band (Cory Near, conductor) - 8 October 2023
  • McGill University (Montreal, Que.) Wind Orchestra (Alain Cazes, conductor) - 29 September 2023
  • Pinnacle Winds (Kansas City, Mo.) (John C. Carmichael, conductor) - 14 May 2023
  • University of Oregon (Eugene) Wind Ensemble (Zachary Glaser, conductor) - 10 March 2023
  • Ball State University (Muncie, Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Tom Caneva, conductor) - 28 October 2022
  • University of South Alabama (Mobile) Wind Ensemble (William Petersen, conductor) – 21 November 2019
  • Cleveland (Ohio) Winds (Birch Browning, conductor) – 17 November 2019
  • State University of New York, Fredonia, Wind Ensemble (Paula Holcomb, conductor) – 19 October 2019
  • Texas Tech University (Lubbock) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Sarah McKoin, conductor) – 28 March 2019
  • Indiana University (Bloomington) Wind Ensemble (Rodney Dorsey, conductor) – 5 February 2019
  • Penn State University (University Park) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Dennis Glocke, conductor) – 13 November 2018
  • University of Florida (Gainesville) Wind Symphony (David Waybright, conductor) – 8 November 2018
  • Oklahoma State University (Stillwater) Concert Band (Marc Sosnowchik, conductor) – 26 April 2018
  • University of South Florida (Tampa) Wind Ensemble (John Carmichael, conductor) – 1 March 2018
  • University of Georgia (Athens) Hodgson Symphonic Band (Michael Robinson, conductor) – 8 February 2018
  • Eastman Wind Orchestra (Rochester, N.Y.) (William Talley, conductor) – 31 January 2018
  • Colorado Wind Ensemble (Denver) (David Kish, conductor) – 21 October 2017
  • University of Georgia (Athens) Hodgson Wind Ensemble (Cynthia Johnson-Turner, conductor) – 4 April 2017
  • University of North Texas (Denton) Symphonic Band (Dennis W. Fisher, conductor) – 17 November 2016
  • Illinois State University (Normal) Wind Symphony and Symphonic Winds (Joe Manfredo, conductor) – 23 September 2016


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

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