Proper Goodbye, A

Joel Puckett

The title of this work is correctly written in lower case: a proper goodbye.

General Info

Year: 2020
Duration: c. 11:30
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: [https://billholabmusic.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&8015.00 Cost: Score and Parts - Rental | Score Only (print) - $80.00

Movements (played without pause)

1. a good rain - 6:40
2. a proper goodbye - 4:50

Instrumentation

Flute I-II-III-IV (IV doubling Piccolo)
Oboe I-II
B-Flat Clarinet I-II-III
B-Flat Bass Clarinet
Bassoon I-II
E-Flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-Flat Tenor Saxophone
E-Flat Baritone Saxophone
B-Flat Trumpet I-II-III
F Horn I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Piano
Percussion including:

Bass Drum
Body Percussion
Chimes
Marimba
Spring Drum (5 inch)
Suspended Cymbal
Vibraphone I-II

Players snapping fingers

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

“I have never been good at saying goodbye. I find it difficult to quickly sum up time shared with a pithy comment or words of gratitude. I usually prefer to simply vanish and remember the meaningful time spent together. Let me be clear: This is a terrible way to say goodbye.

I recently said goodbye to a great friend and mentor who lost an epic battle with cancer. Fortunately, he did not share my fondness for ghosting. He demanded I come to his hospice bed to spend long afternoons sitting quietly together listening to a good hard rain, talking about music, family, and a life meaningfully lived. I am so grateful he did.

I miss him.”

- Program Note by composer

Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Maryland (College Park) Wind Ensemble (Andrea Brown, conductor) - 7 December 2022
University of Puget Sound (Tacoma, Wash.) Wind Ensemble (Gerard Morris, conductor) – 16 March 2022 (CBDNA 2022 Western/Northwestern Conference, Tacoma, Wash.) *Premiere Performance*

Works for Winds by This Composer

Asimov's Aviary (2012)
Avelynn's Lullaby (2011)
Blink! (2006)
Concerto for Viola and Wind Ensemble
Emory's Barcarolle (2015)
Fanfare for Chris (2019)
Fanfares for Friends (2019)
15th Night of the Moon (2014)
I wake in the dark and remember (2022)
it perched for Vespers nine (2008)
Knells for Bonnie (2016)
My Eyes Are Full of Shadow (2016)
Piece for Solo Flute and Chamber Winds (2015)
Ping, Pang, Pong
a proper goodbye (2020)
The Shadow of Sirius (2009)
Ship of Theseus (2015)
Short Stories (2012)
Southern Comforts (2008)
that secret from the river (2016)

Resources

Joel Puckett website Accessed 8 March 2022
Puckett, J. (2022). A proper goodbye: For Wind Ensemble [score]. Bill Holab Music: [Brooklyn, N.Y.]