Passacaglia in Primary Colors

Michael Daugherty

General Info

Year: 2023
Duration: c. 7:05
Difficulty: V+ (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Bill Holab Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - Rental | Score Only (print) – Unknown

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III (2 per part desired)
Oboe I-II-III
English Horn
Bassoon I-II-III
Contrabassoon (or E-flat Contra-Alto Clarinet or B-flat Contrabass Clarinet)
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III (3-4 per part desired)
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Bass Saxophone (optional but preferred)
B-flat or C Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Contra-Bass (2 preferred)
Harp (or Piano; Harp preferred)
Celesta
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:

Bass Drum (concert)
Chimes
Crash Cymbals (large and very large)
Glockenspiel
Suspended Cymbal
Vibraphone
Wood Block (large)
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Passacaglia in Primary Colors for Symphonic Band was commissioned by the University of Michigan in celebration of Michael Haithcock’s twenty-two years as director of bands at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theater and Dance.

The American artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987) often employed repetition of images and vibrant primary colors in his art works. Passacaglia in Primary Colors is structured as a passacaglia, one of the most recognizable structures for musical repetition. The main musical motive consists of 15 pulses or beats, repeated and transformed into unpredictable tonalities and blocks of instrumental color.

- Program Note by composer

Passacaglia in Primary Colors is the fifth movement of Daugherty's 2022 work Fifteen: Symphonic Fantasy on the Art of Andy Warhol, for orchestra.