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Strange Humors

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This work has been identified for inclusion in the Small Band Repertoire Initiative. You may find discussion of the work's challenges and merits under the Discussion tab above. You may also contribute your own thoughts and recommendations by joining the WRP.


John Mackey

John Mackey (transcribed by composer)


General Info

Year: 2006
Duration: c. 5:10
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: String quartet and djembe
Publisher: Osti Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $200.00   |   Score (Purchase) - $25.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet (alternate B-flat Clarinet part provided)
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III (Bass Trombone preferred for Trombone III)
Euphonium
Tubas
String Bass
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Crotales
  • Djembe
  • Marimba
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Strange Humors represents another of Mackey's works (after Redline Tango) that has been transcribed for wind ensemble. The first version of Strange Humors was a student piece for string quartet and djembe that Mackey wrote while pursuing his graduate degree at The Juilliard School. It was later adapted for use by the Parsons Dance Company, with choreography by Robert Battle. Its transcription came at the behest of Richard Floyd on behalf of the American Bandmasters Association. The piece represents a merging of musical cultures -- the modal melodies and syncopated rhythms of middle Eastern music with the percussive accompaniment of African drumming.

At the heart of the work lies the pulse of the djembe, which remains from the original version. The djembe, an hourglass-shaped drum played with bare hands, is a major part of the customs of west African countries such as Mali and Guinea, where djembe ensembles accompany many functional celebrations of society.

The piece opens with a sultry English horn solo, a line laced with Phrygian influence representing the "typical" melodies of the most northeastern parts of the African continent -- most notably Egypt, but also parts of the Arabian peninsula. Later, the saxophones emulate the snaking lines of the English horn. The addition of brass and auxiliary percussion to the original orchestration makes for particular impact during the shout sections of the piece, and the groove of the djembe combined with the quirky rhythms throughout leave an impression that lingers in the listener's mind long after its conclusion.

- Program Note by Jacob Wallace


Media


State Ratings

  • Georgia: V
  • Maryland: V
  • Texas: IV
  • Virginia: VI


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Symphony Band (Jason Gardner, conductor) - 15 February 2023
  • Central East High School (Fresno. Calif.) Wind Ensemble (Jack Frank, conductor) – 22 April 2022 (2022 San Joaquin Valley (Calif.) Concert Band Invitational)
  • New York University (New York, N.Y.) Wind Symphony (Jason Noble, conductor) - 8 December 2021
  • Texas Christian University (Fort Worth) Symphonic Band (Joshua Donnelly, conductor) - 7 October 2021
  • Penn State University (University Park) Symphonic Band (Gregory Drane, conductor) - 28 April 2021
  • Ouachita Baptist University (Arkadelphia, Ark.) Wind Ensemble (Jim Lloyd, conductor) - 16 March 2021
  • Illinois State University (Normal) Symphonic Winds (F. Mack Wood, conductor) - 26 February 2021
  • Texas A&M University (College Station) Symphonic Winds (Travis Almany, conductor) - 29 November 2020
  • Ohio University (Athens) Wind Symphony Chamber Players (William Talley, conductor) – 4 March 2020
  • Western Illinois University (Macomb) Concert Band (Matt Thomas, conductor) – 22 February 2020
  • University of Illinois (Champaign) Hindsley Symphonic Band (Anthony Messina, conductor) – 6 December 2019
  • Rowan University Windfest Honor Band (Joseph Higgins, conductor; Fabio Oliviera, percussion) – 23 November 2019
  • Georgia State University (Atlanta) Wind Orchestra (Bryant L. Wahl-Perrin, conductor) – 19 November 2019
  • University of Kentucky (Lexington) Concert Band (Ashley Shoup, conductor) – 17 November 2019
  • Caltech-Occidental Wind Orchestra (Pasadena, Calif.) (Glenn Price, conductor) – 9 November 2019
  • The College of New Jersey (Ewing) Concert Band (Eric Laprade, conductor) – 18 October 2019
  • Florida State University (Tallahassee, Fla.) Symphonic Band (Patrick Dunnigan, conductor) – 7 October 2019
  • Northwestern University (Evanston, Ill.) Symphonic Band (Shawn Vondran, conductor) – 7 June 2019


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

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