Twisted

Michael Martin

The title of this work is properly written in lower case, with a period: twisted.

General Info

Year: 2018
Duration: c. 3:20
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: PlayWriteMusic
Cost: Score and Parts - Unknown

Instrumentation

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

Bass Drum
Chimes
Crash Cymbals
Crotales
Floor Toms
Glockenspiel
Ratchet
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Tam-Tam
Typewriter
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

I was initially very excited about the opportunity to write a new piece for middle school band -- that is, until I tried to start actually writing a piece for middle school band. I’m not a terribly prolific composer to begin with, and the music I have written that is any good at all has been for university wind ensembles who have zero limitations. Holy cow, do I have a newfound respect for composers who can write GOOD music for young players and even more respect for the directors who teach them to play it. I don’t think I’ve ever solicited advice from so many different people for three minutes of music...

When it comes to actually writing, I’m nothing without a concept, a story, a film in my head I’m trying to score ... which in itself presented another challenge: what is a story that I could tell musically that would not only create a unique experience for the listener, but would also be fun AND appropriate for a middle school band? Well, after many minutes, my super normal brain arrived at the answer: ‘Ooh, what if it was a piece called twisted., about an author writing a novel on a typewriter whose protagonist comes to life, goes insane and terrorizes him!’

Nailed it.

twisted. features a lot of sounds and textures that I hope are unique, educational, and fun for the middle school band: aleatoric material in percussion, extended techniques in the woodwinds and brass, enough floor toms to make Blue Man Group jealous, and a timpani part that doubles on typewriter. Yep. Typewriter. Because you know, the psycho author story Typical middle school content.

A ton of heartfelt thanks to the powerhouse teaching team at Shadow Ridge: Christopher Meredith, Alicia DeSoto, Darrin Hicks, and Jonathan Gill, for their trust in creating something new and fun for their kids. And a HUGE Rock On! to the students of the Shadow Ridge Band. It’s insane how good you are! (See what I did there???)

Lastly, I hope twisted. is as fun to listen to as it was to create. These students certainly bring it to life in ways I didn’t know were possible.”

- Program Note by composer

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

Shadow Ridge Middle School (Flower Mound, Tex.) Honor Winds (Chris Meredith, conductor) - 21 December 2018 (2018 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

The Bridge that Hangs from the Sky (2019)
Canción de España
El Aparecido
Festive Overture (as arranger) (1954/2016?)
Hereafter Calls (2013)
Heroes and Villians (2015)
Lontano (2016)
Lontano (ed. Galus) (2016/2020)
twisted
Zero to Sixty! (2015)

Resources

Michael Martin website Accessed 17 December 2018