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Soundings

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Cindy McTee

Cindy McTee


Contents

General Info

Year: 1995
Duration: c. 15:00
Difficulty: VII (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: MMB Music
Cost: Score and Parts - Rental   |   Full Score Only - $59.95


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I -II-III (1 doubling Piccolo)
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Eb Soprano Clarinet
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
Bb Bass Clarinet
Eb Contra-Alto Clarinet (Opt.)
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet (in Bb) I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III

  • Bass Drum (4 Tonal)
  • Crotales
  • Cowbell (mounted)
  • Cymbals (small, medium, large suspended)
  • Glockenspiel
  • Gong (Tam-tam)
  • Hi-Hat
  • Marimba
  • Snare Drum
  • Tambourine
  • Vibraphone
  • Vibraslap


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Soundings is a four-movement work for wind symphony of approximately fifteen minutes' duration. It was commissioned in 1995 by the Big Eight Band Directors Association whose affiliates included:

Iowa State University – Joseph Christensen Kansas State University – Frank Tracz Oklahoma State University – Joseph Missal University of Colorado – Allan McMurray University of Kansas – Robert E. Foster University of Missouri – Dale Lonis University of Nebraska – John H. Kloecker University of Oklahoma – William K. Wakefield

The title, Soundings, has been used by several composers and authors, including Glen Watkins for his book about music in the twentieth century. I chose the title quite literally for its "sound", but also because its definition, "the making or giving forth of sounds", complements the more descriptive titles of the individual movements: "Fanfare", "Gizmo", "Waves", and "Transmission."

Each of the four movements explores different musical territory:

I. Fanfare

II. Gizmo

III. Waves

IV. Transmission

"Fanfare" employs familiar musical materials such as quartal harmony and imitative counterpoint, but departs from traditional fanfares in its use of woodwind as well as brass instruments.

"Gizmo" reflects my fascination with gadgets, motoric rhythms, and the sound of major sevenths.

"Waves" was born out of my experience in the computer music studio and my preference for sounds whose shapes slowly expand and contract. Four musical layers are presented: (1) a steady tremolo in the percussion serves to anchor as well as to animate the music; (2) waves of sound through the lower brass and woodwinds are supported by timpani and tamtam; (3) scattered, freely-moving solos in the upper winds are complemented by; (4) a repeated melody played by trumpets, oboe, flute, and piccolo.

"Transmission is not unlike "Gizmo" in its reliance upon a quickly-moving, steady pulse and sonorities employing major sevenths. The title, "Transmission", was chosen for its double meaning: (1) information from a transmitter and (2) an assembly of gears and associated parts by which power is transmitted from the engine to the gearbox. In "Transmission" I have "transmitted" musical information using "metric or temporal modulation", a process analogous to the one executed by the driver of an automobile smoothly shifting gears to change engine speed.


Program Note by Cindy McTee


Commercial Discography


Audio Links


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Recent Performances

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Additional Works for Winds by this Composer


Additional Resources

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