A la Machaut

Andrew Boss

General Info

Year: 2015
Duration: c. 6:20
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Murphy Music Press
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $195.00; (digital) - $157.25 | Score Only (print) - $50.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo (alternate with flute)
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
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
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

Bass Drum
Bongos (2)
Chimes
Conga (2)
Crash Cymbals
Crotales
Maracas
Marimba
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal (2: medium and large)
Tambourine
Tam-Tam
Tom-Tom (4)
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Guillaume de Machaut (c. 1300 – April 1377) was a medieval French poet and composer. According to Daniel Leech-Wilkinson, Machaut was "the last great poet who was also a composer". Well into the 15th century, Machaut's poetry was greatly admired and imitated by other poets, including Geoffrey Chaucer.

À La Machaut integrates thematic material from three works of the great Medieval composer Guillaume de Machaut and adds a colorfully modern touch. The piece opens with a slow introduction using melodic and harmonic material from his polyphonic chanson Puis qu’en oubli (Since I am forgotten). The upbeat percussion transitions the piece to the main material, quoting the melody of his secular virelai [form of medieval French verse], Douce jame jolie ("Sweet lovely lady"). This piece also uses material from the Kyrie to Machaut’s Messe de Nostre Dame. A reflective middle section brings back the slow material from the introduction while maintaining the upbeat rhythms introduced earlier in the percussion. A short recapitulation revisits the virelai in several contrasting textures, leading to a climactic variation with shimmering winds, blasting percussion and low brass. A final tutti variation harmonizes the virelai and closes the piece.

This piece contains strong pedagogical undertones; aside from introducing high-quality music from [nowadays] lesser-known composers to younger players, it allows numerous opportunities for brief discussions about aspects of Medieval music.

- Program Note from publisher

À La Machaut was commissioned by and dedicated to Joseph Kreines.

- Program Note from Douglas Anderson School of the Arts Wind Symphony concert program, 14 December 2016

Media

Audio: Reference recording. University of Miami Frost Wind Ensemble, Robert Carnochan, conductor

State Ratings

Texas: IV. Complete

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Miami (Coral Gables) Frost Symphonic Winds (Robert Carnochan, conductor) - 5 March 2023
The Ohio State University (Columbus) Symphonic Band (Dustin B. Ferguson, conductor) - 11 October 2022
Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland, Wash.) Wind Ensemble (Edwin Powell, conductor) - 15 May 2022
University of Florida (Gainesville) Tuesday/Thursday Concert Band (Archie G. Birkner, IV, conductor) – 25 February 2020
Ohio University (Athens) Wind Symphony (William Talley, conductor) – 13 February 2020
Penn State University (University Park) Symphonic Band (Dennis Glocke, conductor) – 12 December 2019
University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Symphony Band (Phillip A. Ostrander, conductor) – 22 November 2019
University of North Texas (Denton) Symphonic Band (Brett Penshorn, conductor) – 21 November 2019
Virginia Tech (Blacksburg) Wind Ensemble (Derek Shapiro, conductor) – 13 October 2019
University of Oklahoma (Norman) Symphony Band (Michael E. Hancock, conductor) – 7 October 2019
Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah) Symphonic Band (Kirk Saville, conductor) - 17 April 2019
Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland, Ohio) Symphonic Winds (Ryan Scherber, conductor) – 14 April 2019
University of Texas (Austin) Symphony Band (Jonathan Vilella, conductor) – 10 April 2019
Kennesaw (Ga.) State University Wind Ensemble (David T. Kehler, conductor) – 7 February 2019
Oklahoma State University (Stillwater) Symphonic Band (Douglas Henderson, conductor) – 27 November 2018
Concordia College (Moorhead, Minn.) Band (Peter Haberman, conductor) – 11 November 2018
North Dakota State University (Fargo) Wind Symphony (Warren Olfert, conductor) – 14 October 2018
University of Kansas (Lawrence) Symphonic Band (Matthew O. Smith, conductor) – 8 October 2018
University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) Symphonic Band (Randall O. Coleman, conductor)- 8 October 2018

Works for Winds by This Composer

Resources

Andrew Boss website Accessed 4 April 2016
Guillaume de Machaut, Wikipedia Accessed 4 April 2016
Penshorn, Brett. "À la Machaut." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 12, Compiled and edited by Andrew Trachsel, 499-512. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2021.