Second Thoughts

James Stephenson

General Info

Year: 2014
Duration: c. 3:40
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Stephenson Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $100.00; (digital) - $100.00 | Score Only (print) - $20.00

Instrumentation

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

Bells
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Triangle

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This work is scored for younger bands and focuses on three aspects derived from its title: the potential consonance of major seconds, secondary themes and reflection.

The work was commissioned in 2014 by the Mannheim Middle School (Ill.) Educational Foundation, led by Rich Paluch.

- Program Note from publisher

Second Thoughts is a quintessential display of the composer’s ability to write for the occasion and/or ensemble. Commissioned by the Mannheim Middle School (Ill.) Symphonic Band, it is Stephenson’s first composition for young band. The composer shares the following about the piece:

Second Thoughts is an exercise in three parts:
1) Understanding that seconds aren’t necessarily dissonant, and should be played confidently, with care toward intonation, to achieve the desired effect.
2) There are two main themes. Oftentimes, the first theme is accompanied by the second theme, or snippets thereof. It would be an interesting exercise for the instructor to challenge the students to discover how these themes are put together.
3) Second Thoughts is mainly a lyrical and reflective piece, as if the author (not this author) is looking back and perhaps having second thoughts about something from their past. Therefore, many of the dynamics are of the softer nature. Playing softly is one of the most neglected aspects of performance practice (from my observation), and so I would encourage strong emphasis on reading the dynamics.

- Program Note by Rich Pauch for the Wheaton Municipal Band concert program, 21 December 2017

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

Wheaton (Ill.) Municipal Band (Bruce Moss, conductor) - 21 December 2017 (2017 Midwest Clinic)
St. Paul (Minn.) Central High School Varsity Band (Matthew Oyen, conductor) – December 2015

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Fanfare for an Angel (Adaptable Band) (2010/2018/2021)
Fiesta! (Adaptable Band) (2020)
Holiday Carol Medley (Adaptable Band) (2020)
Loop-D-Loop (Adaptable Band) (2017/2020)
May the Road Rise to Meet You (Adaptable Band) (2021)
No Thing Can Die as Others Do (Adaptable Band) (2014/2020)
Reflections (Adaptable Band) (2010/2020)
2/2 Tango (Adaptable Band) (2010/2020)
Ubi Caritas (Adaptable Band) (2019/2021)

All Wind Works

American Embers (2017)
American Fanfare (2009)
as the fireflies watched (2020)
August in York (2008)
BasSOON It will be Christmas (2007/2013)
Celebration Overture (1999/2018)
Chorale in Blue (2018)
Christmas Charleston (as arranger) (2012)
Code of Conduct (2023)
Concerto Braziliano
Concerto for Bassoon and Wind Ensemble
Concerto for Cell Phone
Concerto for Hope (2016/2017)
Concerto for Piccolo Trumpet (2016)
Concerto for Winds (2023)
Concerto Grosso (2016)
Concerto No 1 for Trumpet (2007)
Concerto No. 2 for Trumpet (2010)
Concerto No. 3 for Trumpet. See: Concerto for Hope
Deep Dish (2016)
The Devil's Tale (2013)
A Dialogue for Self and Soul (2013)
Dodecafecta (2010)
Duels and Dances (2011)
Duo Fantastique (2007)
Exhale! (2021)
Eyes on the Bison (2021)
Fanfare for an Angel (2010/2018)
Fanfare for an Angel (Adaptable Band) (2010/2018/2021)
Fanfare for Democracy (2021)
Fiesta! (Adaptable Band) (2020)
...Forward (2021)
Glissin' Up (2016)
Hanging by a Thread (2014)
Heritage of Freedom Fanfare
Holiday Carol Medley (Adaptable Band) (2020)
Holiday Fanfare Medley (2010)
Homage and Farewell (2010)
In the Moment (2018)
In the Moment Too (2018)
Intrepid Promise
It's About Time (2014)
Just B. See: Symphony for Brass
Kentucky Run (2019)
Kleiner Walzer (as transcriber) (1896/2022)
L'esprit de la trompette (2012/2014)
Lonesome Valley Folk Suite (2022)
Loop-D-Loop (Adaptable Band) (2017/2020)
Luther: In Canon (2017)
May the Road Rise to Meet You (Adaptable Band) (2021)
Möbius Trip (2017)
No Thing Can Die as Others Do (Adaptable Band) (2014/2020)
Octet (2021)
Overture to a Winter Celebration (2010)
Perpetual Notion (2020)
Reflections (Adaptable Band) (2010/2020)
Requiem Dances (2018)
Rhythms of the Spirit (2006)
Saints Fantasy (2017)
Scram! (2018)
Second Thoughts (2014)
Smitty's Aweigh Overture
Sonata Rhapsody "The Arch" (2009/2014)
Sounds Awakened (2013)
Stars and Stripes Fanfare (2007/2018)
The Storyteller (2013/2017)
Sunburst Fanfare (2023)
Symphony for Brass (2014)
- Just B (2020)
Symphony No 1 for Concert Band (2008)
Symphony No 2 (2016)
Taps (2017)
there are no words (2015)
this is most certainly true (2017)
Three Bones Concerto (2013)
To the Sky (2011)
2/2 Tango (Adaptable Band) (2010/2020)
Twisted Shout (2021)
Ubi Caritas (Adaptable Band) (2019/2021)
Unfettered (2020)
Variations on Chinese Folk Songs (2006)
Vast and Curious (2014/2017)
Walk Slowly (arr. M. Stephenson) (1997/2009/2020)
Wildcat Run (2019)
Wooden Dimes (2021/2022)
Zodiac Concerto II (2022)

Resources

Jim Stephenson website Accessed 15 December 2017
Perusal score
Talbert, Mathew D. "Second Thoughts." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 12, Compiled and edited by Andrew Trachsel, 271-277. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2021.