Pulse Pounding

Sean O'Loughlin

General Info

Year: 2014
Duration: c. 2:30
Difficulty: I 1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Carl Fischer
Cost: Score and Parts -$50.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe (optional Flute II)
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F
Trombone/Euphonium/Bassoon
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Snare Drum
Crash Cymbals
Bells
Mark Tree
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-Tam
Tambourine
Triangle

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

From the start, the music embodies the title in decidedly energetic manner. Pulsating repeated eighth note rhythms contrast with syncopated lines that drive the intensity and suspense. The contrasting middle section seems to materialize from nowhere, floating along suspended in air, before the final energetic statement brings about the rousing finish.

- Program Note from the George Junior High School Symphonic Band concert program

The title of this exciting composition aptly describes the sound of the music, a sound somewhat similar to that of an action movie film score. A fast, rhythmic opening section builds to a suddenly softer passage that introduces a syncopated melody stated by trumpets and horns with woodwind accompaniment. Other sections then are added as the intensity increases before moving to a slower, somewhat mysterious contrasting section that features smooth, overlapping eighth-note patterns in the high woodwinds and alto saxophone supported by sustained, syncopated lines in the remaining winds. The fast tempo returns as earlier material is merged and developed before reaching a bold final section, bringing the piece to a dynamic conclusion.

- Program Note from The Instrumentalist

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

George Junior High School (Springdale, Ark.) Symphonic Band (Christopher Moore, conductor) – 18 December 2014 (2014 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Achilles' Wrath (Flex instrumentation) (2005/2013)
Amazing Grace (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2012/2014)
Exhale (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2021)
Hidden Wonders (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
The Ides of March (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2015)
Visigoths (Flex instrumentation) (2007/2012)
Waltz of the Carols (Flex instrumentation) (2020)

All Wind Works

Achilles' Wrath (Flex instrumentation) (2005/2013)
Amazing Grace (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (2012/2014)
Ancient Hunters (2004)
Ancient Irish Hymn (as arranger) (2006)
Arrival at Normandy (2005)
Azimuth (2017)
Back to the Future (as arranger)
Battlefront (2017)
The Best of INXS (as arranger) (2016)
Beyond the Crest (2018)
The Blessing (as arranger) (2010)
Burst (2008)
Canyon Winds (2004)
Carol of the Bells (as arranger)
Christmas Sketches (as arranger) (2000)
Commence! (2018)
Convergence (2017/2019)
Convergence (Trumpet sextet) (2017)
Counting Stars (as arranger) (2015)
Daedalus' Labyrinth (2014)
Dawn of the Spartans (2017)
Dominion (2013)
Doppler Effect (2014)
Eclipsys (2003)
Edge of Destiny (2016)
Elation (2013)
Emblazon (2011)
Embolden (2018)
Enchanted Village (2007)
Exhale (2018)
Exhale (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2021)
Fairytale of New York (as arranger) (2015)
Fortitude (2009)
A Gleeful Christmas (as arranger) (2012)
Hawaii Five-O Theme (as arranger) (2011)
The Heart's Cry (as arranger) (2014)
Hidden Wonders (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Hidden World (2013)
Highlights from "Brave" (as arranger) (2012)
Highlights from "Frozen" (as arranger) (2013)
Highlights from "Mary Poppins" (as arranger) (1963/2011)
Holiday Ornaments (as arranger) (2003)
Holiday Portraits (as arranger) (2010)
How to Train Your Dragon (as arranger) (2010)
Huron Trail (2009)
The Ides of March (2013)
The Ides of March (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2015)
I'm Shipping Up to Boston (as arranger) (2004/2012)
Imani (2001)
Impact (2008)
Incursion (2018)
Intensity (2005)
Into the Mist (2002)
Irish Vision (as arranger) (2002)
Ironclad (2011)
Jam! (2010)
Journey to Illyria (2018)
Joy to the Season (2013)
Jubilant Holiday (2005)
Lady Gaga in Concert (as arranger) (2017)
Legacy (2012)
The Lost Tomb (2010)
Lost in Space (as arranger) (1993)
The Ludlows (2011)
Magellan (2015)
Mammoth (2014)
Mary Poppins (as arranger) (2011)
Metal! (as arranger) (2014)
Mighty Mite (as arranger) (1951/2003/2013)
Monuments (2002)
Moonlit Skies (2020)
Mountains of Mohon (2008)
Mystic Portal (2010)
Mythos (2012)
Not So Silent Night (as arranger) (2007)
Omicron (2013)
Oscillation (2011)
Osmosis (2015)
Overlords (2006)
Passacaglia Variants (2019)
The Past is Always Present (2017)
Path of Destiny (2009)
Path to Victory (2012)
Phantasm (2016)
Poker Face (as arranger) (2011)
Primal (2016)
Promised Land (2010)
Prophesy (2004)
Pulse Pounding (2014)
Redhawk (2008)
Relics of the Past (2011)
Resolution (2004)
Ricochet (2009)
Ruminations (2008)
Santa's Toy March (as arranger) (2011)
Silent Night (as arranger) (2014)
Skyburst (2014)
Soaring (2013)
Sonic Fusion (2002)
Spectral Landscapes (2006)
Spirals of Light (2007)
Spirit of the Sea (2004)
The Star-Spangled Banner (as arranger) (1814/2017)
Strength and Honor (2020)
Strong of Heart (2019)
Stronghold (2015)
Supremacy (2009)
Temblor (2017)
Terminus (2020)
Theme from "Lost in Space" (as arranger) (1965/1993)
Thrive (2015)
Thunderbound (2019)
Thunderstruck (2015)
Traditions (2016)
Tribal Quest (2003)
Turning Point (2012)
The Twelve Days of Christmas (as arranger) (1999)
Twinkle Little Christmas Star (as arranger) (2016)
Unbound (2012)
Unforgotten Friends (2006)
Urban Invasion (2007)
Venture (2012)
Vigor (2003)
Visigoths (Flex instrumentation) (2007/2012)
Waltz of the Carols (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Waves of the Revolution (2005)
Wigan Warriors (2006)
Winds Along the Whippany (2010)
Zig Zag (2019)

Resources

"New Music Reviews." The Instrumentalist 70.3 (2015): 96. Print