Bum's Rush
General Info
Year: 1994
Duration: c. 10:30
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Piquant Press
Cost: Score and Parts (Rental) - $300.00 | Score (Purchase) - $50.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
C Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III-IV
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass (2 or 3 players)
Piano (doubling Celesta)
Timpani
Percussion I–II-III-IV, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bongos
- Castanets
- Crash Cymbal
- Glockenspiel
- Ratchet
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tambourine
- Tam-Tam (large)
- Timbales
- Trap Set
- Triangle (small)
- Tubular Bells
- Vibraphone
- Wood Block
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The term "bum's rush" dates back to the 1940s, and it literally means to forcibly eject a person -- usually from a night club. In context, it often referred to a person of somewhat dubious character, as in "He's nothing but a bum's rush." University of Texas composer Donald Grantham selected the intriguing title for this piece to match the music, which creates a dark, menacing and morally ambivalent atmosphere, the kind likely to attract a bum's rush.
- Program notes by the United States Navy Band
Bum’s Rush opens with a mysterious tone, featuring an alto saxophone solo with the low reeds, giving us a jazzy underbelly to allow us to “feel the swing” of patrons walking into a tavern, followed by a more relaxed portion where the patrons are peaceably enjoying their libation of choice. As in all places where alcohol and loose law enforcement were present, the music depicts the growing crowd and bustle of the establishment. We can hear the piano of the tavern player as well as the some of the raucous behavior of the patrons displayed by the trumpets. We clearly hear the bartender seeking out, discovering and then tussling with the offender as we reach the conclusion, with the bum hitting the street with the effect of the last note accentuated by a big bass drum hit.
- Program Note by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Wind Ensemble concert program, 23 November 2013
This work was commissioned by The University of Texas at Austin Wind Ensemble, and won the 1995 NBA/William D. Revelli Prize.
Awards
- Bum's Rush has been recommended as interesting, serious and distinctive music by members of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE).
- NBA/William D. Revelli Prize, 1995.
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Wind Symphony (Stephen Bolstad, conductor) - 8 December 2021
- Baylor University (Waco, Texas) Wind Ensemble (Eric Wilson, conductor) – 23 October 2018
- The Hartt Omni-Ensemble (West Hartford, Conn.) (Glen Adsit, conductor) – 5 May 2018
- University of Miami (Coral Gables) Frost Wind Ensemble (Robert Carnochan, conductor) – 29 October 2017
- University of Texas (Austin) Wind Ensemble (Jerry Junkin, conductor) – 19 February 2016
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Wind Ensemble (Andrew McMahan, conductor) - 23 November 2013
- University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee Wind Ensemble (John Climer, conductor) – 22 March 2013 (CBDNA 2013 National Conference, Greensboro, N.C.)
- University of Memphis (Tenn.) Wind Ensemble (Kraig Alan Williams, conductor) – 23 February 2006 (CBDNA 2006 Southern Division Conference, Nashville, Tenn.)
Works for Winds by This Composer
- After Hafiz (2016)
- Amber Sky
- Baron Cimetiere's Mambo (2004)
- Baron Piquant on Pointe (2011)
- Baron La Croix's Shuffle (2007)
- Baron Samedi's Sarabande (and Soft Shoe) (2005)
- Bum's Rush (1994)
- Chant and Hymn for Our Lady
- Circa 1600 (2018)
- Cloudless Day, Bitter Sky (2002)
- "Come Memory..." (2002)
- Concerto in One Movement for Bass Trombone (1979)
- Court Music (2005)
- Don't You See? (2001)
- Effulgent Light (2017)
- Exhilaration and Cry (2008)
- Fantasy on "In Dulci Jubilo" (2015)
- Fantasy on "La Golondrina" (2003)
- Fantasy on Mr. Hyde's Song (1998)
- Fantasy Variations (1927/1998)
- Farewell to Gray (2001)
- Fayetteville Bop (2002)
- From "An Alabama Songbook" (2007)
- Honey in the Rock (2008)
- JS Dances (2003)
- J'ai été au bal (1999)
- Kentucky Harmony (2000)
- Let Evening Come (Grantham) (2014)
- Lone Star Twister (2008)
- Music for the Blanton (2006)
- Northern Celebration (2001)
- Phantasticke Spirites (2002)
- Shenandoah (2017)
- Southern Harmony (1998)
- Wondrous Love (2008)
- Sol y Sombra (2014)
- Spangled Heavens (2010)
- Starry Crown (2007)
- Symphony for Winds and Percussion (2009)
- Stomp (Grantham) (2009)
- Summer of 2008 (2008)
- Thunderbird
- Trumpet Gloria (2006)
- Tuba Concerto (Grantham) (2012)
- An Uneasy Mrch
- Variations on an American Cavalry Song (2001)
- What Comes Around... (2017)
- A Winter Sky (2022)
Resources
- Donald Grantham website (Piquant Press)
- McCutchen, Mathew G. (2009) An Examination of the History and Winning Pieces of the National Band Association's Composition Contest: 1977-2008. Florida State University, Doctoral Dissertation.
- United States Navy Band