Voodoo

From Wind Repertory Project
Daniel Bukvich

Daniel Bukvich


General Info

Year: 1984 / 1993
Duration: c. 5:45
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Wingert-Jones Publications
Cost: Score & Parts - $55.00   |   Score Only - $7.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
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 I-II
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V-VI, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bird Whistle
  • Chocolo
  • Claves
  • Conga Drum
  • Cowbell
  • Cricket
  • Fire Alarm Bell
  • Flashlight
  • Maracas
  • Metal Bowl with BBs
  • Snare Drum
  • Temple Blocks
  • Timpani (Pedal)
  • Tom-Toms (2)
  • Triangles (3)

Players screaming and clapping

Electronic soundscape

Flashlights (audience; optional)


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Voodoo was a commission for the Idaho All-State Band in 1984. The piece was written specifically for the setting it would be premiered in, a gymnasium. Mel Shelton, a professor of conducting and composition at Boise State University, conducted it and was instrumental in pulling off the first successful performance of the piece.

The educational purpose of the piece was to challenge the performers to listen to each other. "To accomplish this, it occurred to me to turn the lights off." The piece is supposed to be performed from memory, without a conductor. It is as much a theatrical event as a piece of music, calling for the use of flashlights, arm waving, chanting, singing, blowing into brass mutes, surrounding the audience, and playing on parts of wind instruments, such as mouthpieces, trombone slides, and trumpets with tuning slides removed.

Voodoo, the band piece, is in no way related to the practice of religion. The name of the piece is derived from a conversation Bukvich had with his friend who was a missionary nun living in Guatemala. "She told me that the sounds of the jungle, at night time, reminded her of 'those old Voodoo movies' they used to watch," he said. Many of these "sounds of the jungle" are imitated in Voodoo, the band piece. The primary melodic material is loosely based on a favorite Gregorian chant; he simply finds the melody appealing. It is also a smooth, flowing, conjunct melodic line which works well while singing the word "voodoo."

- Program Note by Daniel Bukvich


Voodoo is a programmatic piece that attempts to conjure dark and sinister images in a jungle inhabited by pagan natives. Bukvich creates many extraordinary sound effects which are derived from within the instrumentation of the traditional concert band.

- Program Note by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Wind Orchestra concert program, 9 March 2014


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • University of Iowa (Iowa City) University Band (M. Cory Schmitt, conductor) - 5 December 2022
  • Mercyhurst University (Erie, Penn.) Wind Ensemble (Scott Meier, conductor) – 27 October 2019
  • Saugus High School (Santa Clarita, Calif.) Wind Ensemble (Corey Whitt, conductor)– 10 May 2019
  • University of Evansville (Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Kenneth Steinsultz, conductor) – 31 October 2017
  • California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Wind Orchestra (not conducted) - 9 March 2014


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

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