Suite from "Sketches of Cinema"

Vincent Oppido

General Info

Year: 2016 / 2018
Duration: c. 10:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Symphony
Publisher: East ParkWood Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $350.00; (digital) - $350.00 | Score Only (print) - $45.00; (digital) - $45.00

Movements

1. Prologue: The Adventure Begins! – 2:05
2. Stargazers’ Soliloquy – 4:00
3. The Battle at Dark Castle – 3:20
4. Short Ride Through A Colorful Sketch – 1:15

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass 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-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Harp
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Anvil
Bell Tree
Chimes
Glockenspiel
Gran Cassa
Mark Tree
Piatti
Sizzle Cymbal
Slapstick
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tam-Tam
Tom-Tom
Triangle
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

The two greatest forms of music preservation lie in the written score and sound recordings. Sitting at a desk and scribbling notes on music paper is a gratifying experience, but also one that only requires a few things - a stack of paper, freshly sharpened pencils and an endless flow of inspiration and creative energy. However, the challenge to assemble a full symphony orchestra to create the sound recording, though also gratifying, is a daunting task in the realm of production responsibilities. Before I speak specifically about my current project, a few brief remarks on my musical aesthetics.

I have always been fascinated by the symphony orchestra. The idea that this diverse, multitude of people with varying sonic instruments can collectively create many different textures and feelings, is something that continues to awe-inspire. Thinking of films with great, memorable scores, that had an impact on me, only to name a few: Star Wars, E.T., Indiana Jones, Lawrence of Arabia, The Magnificent Seven, Psycho and To Kill a Mockingbird. For me, the synthesis of image and music is a powerful one, and one that has been illustrated by great composers such as John Williams, Ennio Morricone, Bernard Herrmann, Jerry Goldsmith, and Elmer Bernstein, to name only a few. As a musical auteur, the greatest feeling of joy is hearing the music by itself. One only needs to hear a piece of music from Star Wars to immediately be taken inside the film, without the necessity of viewing the scene.

With these thoughts in mind, I've set out to create a new orchestral work entitled Sketches of Cinema. It is a ... suite ... consisting of musical jottings that reflect my love and nostalgia for great melodic, musically-developed motion picture scores of yesteryear. It is my hope that Sketches of Cinema will have a similar effect on the listener; to be taken into different worlds of the imagination through music.

- Program Note by composer for orchestral version

This suite for wind ensemble is derived from Vincent Oppido's 2016 eight-movement orchestral work Sketches of Cinema.

Media

Audio: Reference recording of orchestral version. Ensemble and conductor unknown

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Kent State University (Ohio) Wind Ensemble (Wendy K. Matthews, conductor) – 23 February 2020

Works for Winds by This Composer

Alarums and Excursions
Celebrations!
Cosmic Escapades (2018)
Cosmic Perspectives
Fanfare to an American Heritage
Grace Will Lead Me Home (2009)
Il Mazzamurello (2020)
The Hubble Space Telescope (2012)
New York, New York (2016)
Northwest Fanfare (2009)
Patriot Pride
Skysplitter! (2006)
Suite from "Sketches of Cinema" (2016/2018)
Three Happenings While Walking Down Main Street (2019)

Resources

Perusal score
Vincent Oppido website Accessed 23 February 2020
"SKETCHES OF CINEMA - A Cinematic Orchestral Suite." Indiegogo. Web. Accessed 24 February 2020