Apples

Andrew Boysen, Jr.

General Info

Year: 2018
Duration: c. 2:55
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Neil A. Kjos
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $70.00 | Score Only (print) - $7.00

Instrumentation

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

Bass Drum
Bongos
Cabasa
Egg Shaker
Finger Cymbals
Orchestra Chimes
Sandpaper Blocks
Shekere
Snare Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine (2)
Temple Blocks

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

These “apples” are a retirement gift for an energetic music teacher with a 30-year career split between two schools. Apples is minimalist in nature, using the number 15 as a generating force and structured using a process in which repeating layers enter and leave after playing their passage three times. Each of these layers is five measures long with three beats to the measure (15 beats per passage). The basic melodic cell for the piece begins with a harmonic third moving to a harmonic fifth.

- Program Note from publisher

This interesting and innovative work is set in 3/4 and marked “Energetic.” The composer explains that “the piece is minimalistic in nature, using the number 15 as a generating force and structured using a process in which repeating layers enter and leave after playing their passage three times.” Each of these layers is five measures long with three beats to the measure, making 15 beats per passage. The ranges and technical demands of this unique selection are all within the grade level, but the occasionally transparent scoring will require confident players. There are brief, but critical solos for trumpet and horn. A delightful composition for performers and listeners alike

- Program Note from The Instrumentalist

Apples was commissioned for Randy Atkinson and the Taft Middle School 7th-8th Grade Band (Cedar Rapids, Ia.) upon the occasion of Randy's retirement after 30 years of teaching, including 15 years at Taft and 15 years at neighboring Linn-Mar High School. After discussion with Randy's daughter, herself a local music teacher, and Bob Manson, a former colleague and friend at Taft, the piece is intended to focus on Randy's energetic personality, one which endeared him to his students.

- Program Note from score

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Works for Winds by This Composer

Alchemy (2008/2013)
All the Pretty Little Horses. See: Three Folk Song Settings for Band
Ancient Runes (2017)
Apples (2018)
Branden's Rainbow (1997/2002)
Bright Sunny Days (2013)
By My Side (2018)
Casus Belli
Celebration In Brass
Concerto for Percussion (as transcriber) (1994/1997)
Conversations with the Night (1994)
Dance, from All Hail the Power
December Dance (2005)
Diamond Jubilee Suite (2018)
Distorted Images: A Jazzman's Nightmare
A Fallen Leaf
Fanfare: In Memoriam (2015)
Fantasy on a Theme by Sousa (2003)
Frenzy
The Four Horsemen
A Glimpse through the Trees
Grant Them Eternal Rest
Havener Fanfare (2012)
Heirloom
I Am (1990)
John Henry
Joyride
Kinetic Energy (1994)
Kirkpatrick Fanfare (1999)
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow (2006)
Metamorphosis (2013)
Old Ben's Farm (2016/2019)
On the Merrimack (2010)
Ovations
Phoenix (2020)
Poor Wayfaring Stranger. See: Three Folk Song Settings for Band
Relentless
Scarborough Fair. See: Three Folk Song Settings for Band
Scherzo
Scherzo No 2 (2013)
Shades of Ivory
Simple Song
Snowflakes Dancing (2012/2016)
Song for Lyndsay (2005)
Song for My Children (2013)
Song for My Parents (2020)
Song of Loudest Praise, A (2010)
Song of the Sea Maidens
Stamp, from A Jack Stamp Suite (2017)
Star-Crossed (2013)
Symphony No. 1 for Winds and Percussion (1997)
Symphony No. 3 (1999)
Symphony No. 4 (2006)
Symphony No. 6
Symphony No. 8 (2015-2016)
Symphony No. 10 (2019)
This Is the Drum (2013)
Thoughts of You
Three Folk Song Settings for Band
- Poor Wayfaring Stranger (2007/2012)
- All the Pretty Little Horses (as arranger) (2014)
- Scarborough Fair (as arranger) (2013)
Time Streams (After Tricycle) (2011)
To Break Earth's Sleep (2015)
Tricycle (1997)
Twilight of the Gods (2010)
An Uncommon Man
Unraveling
Urban Scenes
The Vikings (2015)
Winter of the World

Resources

Andrew Boysen Jr. website Accessed 5 January 2019
Dalton, Adam. "Apples." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 12, Compiled and edited by Andrew Trachsel, 333-340. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2021.
"New Music Reviews." The Instrumentalist 73.6 (January 2019): 28-29. Print.
Perusal score