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Black Bolt!

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Jess Langston Turner

Jess Langston Turner


General Info

Year: 2012
Duration: c. 8:30
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Bluejay Way Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $200.00


Instrumentation

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

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Anvil
  • Bicycle Horn
  • Chimes
  • Flexatone
  • Glockenspiel
  • Marimba
  • Mark Tree
  • Mouth Siren
  • Police Whistle
  • Ratchet
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tam-Tam
  • Temple Blocks
  • Tom-Tom
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Whip
  • Xylophone

Players whispering


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Black Bolt (or Blackagon Boltagar) is a lesser-known character in the Marvel comic universe. Besides the standard superhuman strength, his super power is called the “hypersonic scream” which he activates simply by the act of speaking. His hypersonic scream is capable of leveling entire cities. Therefore, through meditation and rigorous training, Black Bolt developed the ability to never utter a sound, even while asleep. Black Bolt, a dark and morally complex hero, is represented by a motive drawn from the letters B-O-L-T (Bb, do, La, Ti, or Bb, C, A, B ).

Black Bolt’s arch nemesis is a madman named Maximus. The relationship between Black Bolt and Maximus is complicated by the fact that Maximus is actually Black Bolt’s brother. Furthermore, Maximus’ psychosis was caused directly by Black Bolt’s hypersonic scream. This makes the relationship quite Byronic, twisted and complex. Musically, Maximus is represented by classical quotations (notably from Mozart, Saint-Saëns, and Schubert). The decision to use classical quotations comes from what is now a cliché in the movies of the villain who loves classical music. The quotations are distorted, sometimes grotesquely in order to convey Maximus’ sick mind and twisted sense of humor. Of course, in the end, Black Bolt defeats Maximus. After a moment of sad reflection over his brother’s demise at his hands, Black Bolt returns to his superhero duties, because after all, a superhero’s work is never done.

- Program note by Jess Langston Turner


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

  • Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo, Ont. Can.) Wind Orchestra (Jessica Kun, conductor) - 4 December 2021
  • Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland, Wash.) Wind Ensemble (Edwin Powell, conductor) – 15 March 2020
  • University of North Texas (Denton) Wind Orchestra (Andrew Trachsel, conductor) – 31 October 2019
  • United States Coast Guard Band (New London, Conn.) (Adam Williamson, conductor) – 15 January 2017
  • University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Wind Ensemble (William L. Lake, Jr., conductor) – 19 November 2015
  • Texas A&M University-Kingsville Wind Symphony (Scott Anthony Jones, conductor) - 21 February 2015
  • San Diego State University Wind Symphony (Shannon Kitelinger, conductor) - CBDNA Western/Northwestern Division Convention (Reno, Nev.) 13 March 2014
  • University of Georgia (Athens) Wind Ensemble (John P. Lynch, conductor) - 7 March 2013 (ABA 2013 Annual Convention (Tampa, Florida)) *Premiere Performance*


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

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