Portrait of a Clown
From Wind Repertory Project
Contents |
General Info
Year: 1988
Duration: 2:45
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Manhattan Beach Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $75.00 | Score Only - $12.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Flute and Oboe
Bassoon
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II
Bb Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Cornet (in Bb) I-II
Horn in F
Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Xylophone
Percussion, including:
(Percussion breakdown needed)
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Portrait of a Clown is in ABA form surrounded by an eight-bar introduction and coda:
Introduction (beginning at measure "1")
A (beginning at rehearsal letter "A")
B (beginning at rehearsal letter "D")
A (beginning at rehearsal letter "H")
Coda (beginning at rehearsal letter "K")
The melody in the A section, first appearing in the flutes and oboe, is derived from the first five pitches of the Bb Lydian scale: B flat, C, D, E natural, and F. It should be performed in a bouncy, happy manner, and should always predominate.
The middle section is flowing and melancholy, but without a change in tempo. It contains two melodies, one at letters D, E, and G, and the other at letter F in the clarinets and horns. Both melodies are marked "espressivo," and should always sing through.
The return of the A section at letter H contains three statements of the Lydian melody:
1. with a walking bass in the low woodwinds and low brass;
2. with its inversion in the 1st trumpets (at letter I); and
3. with a countermelody in the woodwinds (at letter J).
A brief coda at letter K recalls the introduction, and brings the piece to a close.
The piece was scored in such a way as to permit performances by bands lacking sufficient depth in low woodwinds and low brass; therefore, those band directors who do have enough of these instruments should take great care in not allowing them to overpower the others.
Special thanks to Donald S. George and the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire Symphony Band, who provided the initial recording of the piece, and to Cheryl Floyd and the Murchison Middle School Matador Band, who gave the work its premiere performance at the Murchison Middle School Annual Spring Concert on May 26, 1988 in Austin, Texas.
Program Note by Frank Ticheli
Commercial Discography
Audio Links
State Ratings
Florida: II
Recent Performances
(To add performances, please join the WRP by contacting the webmaster)
Additional Works for Winds by this Composer
- Abracadabra
- Amazing Grace
- An American Elegy
- Blue Shades
- Cajun Folk Songs, Part One
- Cajun Folk Songs, Part Two
- Fortress
- Gaian Visions
- Joy
- Joy Revisited
- Loch Lomond
- Nitro
- Pacific Fanfare
- Postcard
- Sanctuary
- Shaker Gift Song, A
- Shenandoah
- Simple Gifts: Four Shaker Songs
- Sun Dance
- Symphony No. 2
- Vesuvius
- Wild Nights!
Additional Resources
- Blocker, L., Cramer, R., Corporon, E. ,Lautzenheiser, T., Lisk, E., & Miles, R. (1996). Teaching music through performance in band (Volume One). Chicago, IL: Gia Publications.
