Symphony of Fables, A

From Wind Repertory Project
Julie Giroux

Julie Giroux


General Info

Year: 2006
Duration: c. 22:55
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Musica Propria
Cost: Score and Parts - $265.00   |   Score Only - $50.00


Movements

1. The Lion and the Mouse - 4:45
2. The Pied Piper of Hamelin - 4:55
3. The Hare and the Tortoise + - 3:50
4. The Ugly Duckling - 4:15
5. The Three Billy Goats Gruff - 4:25

+see errata

Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon (optional)
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
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Baritone
Tuba
Contrabass
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Gong
  • Orchestra Chimes
  • Slapstick
  • Triangle
  • Xylophone

Narrator


Errata

In score and parts:

The title of Movement 3: On the cover and inside title page, the title of movement three is listed as "The Tortoise and the Hare," but in the actual movement, the text at the top of the page is "The Hare and the Tortoise." To confound matters more, the official record of the Aesop's fables lists the title on their main page (Fable 226) with the Tortoise first in the title. When you follow the link to the actual page with the fable, the Hare is listed first.

In parts:

  • Bass Trombone, 1st mvt, m.43: Tied note should be an eighth, not a quarter.


Program Notes

This programmatic five-movement work musically captures the fascinating stories of five well-known fables. The individual fables may be performed in any combination as each stands independently.

- Program Note from publisher


Commissioned by the United States Air Force Band of Flight, Wright-Patterson Air Force Band, Ohio, Lieutenant Colonel Alan Sierichs, conductor.


Commissioned by the United States Air Force Band of Flight, Julie Giroux’s Symphony of Fables is a programmatic, five-movement symphony that musically captures the fascinating stories of five well-known fables. The composer has intentionally employed what she labelled an “old school” style -- music she would have heard at the movies when she was young. Giroux has further commented that she wanted this music to stand as an “emotionally serious and highly programmatic work.”

The “morals” of the fables may make the best points of emphasis in one respect, but the musical depictions of the roaring lion and grateful mouse, Hamelin’s rats and lost children, the nap and the later-panicked rabbit, the beautiful swan, and the rejoicing billy goats are equally evocative! Says Giroux, “The total purpose of this music is to make the audience and performers ... experience the wonders of a childhood story heard for the very first time through the magic of music.”

- Program Note by Brian Casey


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

  • University of Toronto (Ont., Can.) Wind Symphony (Pratik Gandhi, conductor; Mark Sallmen, narrator) – 3 February 2023
  • University of North Dakota (Grand Forks) Wind Ensemble (James Popejoy, conductor; Melanie Popejoy, narrator) - 9 March 2021
  • Catskill Valley Wind Ensemble (Oneonta, N.Y.) (Scott Rabeler, conductor; Jonelle Goldman, narrator)– 28 April 2019
  • Central Iowa Wind Ensemble (Mark A. Doerffel, conductor) - 10 March 2019
  • University of Illinois (Champaign) University Band (Joe Clark, conductor) – 14 November 2018
  • Cleveland State University (Ohio) Wind Ensemble (Birch Browning, conductor) – 11 November 2018
  • Swarthmore (Penn.) College Wind Ensemble (Andrew Hauze, conductor) – 14 April 2018
  • Mid America Freedom Band (Kansas City, Mo.) (Lee Hartman, conductor – 2 May 2016
  • Foothill Symphonic Winds (Palo Alto, Calif.) (David Bruce Adams, conductor) - 7 December 2014
  • Air Force Band of the Golden West (Jason S. Plosch, conductor) - 3 April 2013 (ACB’s 35th Annual Convention (San Ramon, Calif.))
  • UConn First Chair Honor Band - 13 February 2013
  • Texas A&M University-Kingsville Concert Band (Brian Casey, Conductor) - 22 April 2014


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Giroux, Julie. (2006). A Symphony of Fables: For Concert Band [score]. Musica Propria: San Antonio, Tx.
  • Julie Giroux website Accessed 10 July 2021
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