Crystals

Thomas Duffy

General Info

Year: 1985 / 1992
Duration: c. 5:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Ludwig Masters
Cost: Score and Parts - $85.00 | Score Only - $10.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet (optional)
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II (all saxophones doubling on crystal glasses)
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-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Snare Drum
Crash Cymbals
Bell Tree
Bongos
Chimes
Claves
Glockenspiel
Gong
Lion's Roar
Suspended Cymbal
Triangle
Water Glasses
Water Gong
Wind Chimes

Players whistling

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

As a composer with great skills and an avowed desire to artfully combine traditional band forms and formats with contemporary techniques and colors, Tom Duffy has fashioned this one-movement tone poem; each of the four sections of the work evokes Duffy's musical representation of a specific type of crystal and its accompanying characteristics, either real or mythological. Tonal writing alongside aleatoric techniques and clusters: it's all part of Duffy's wonderful gifts, opening the ears of bands and audiences in most enjoyable ways.

- Program Note from publisher

Crystals was commissioned by and dedicated to the Killingly (Connecticut) High School Symphonic Wind Ensemble, John Kusinski, director. Though a one-movement work, it is divided into four sections, each a vignette with its own style and title. The first, Dark Ice, combines water sounds with quartal harmonies and a modal melody to suggest the mystery and terrible majesty of glacier, iceberg, and things in and under them. The second, Underwater Rubies, again uses water sounds to describe sunken treasure. The third section, Cyanide, is of a violent and percussive spirit which, by its brevity, mimics the horrible potency of its namesake. Finally, Monolith aspires to huge vertical space, large sweeps of color, and a sturdy brass foundation for those masses of crystals such as Stonehenge in England or any natural promontory.

- Program Note from Program Note for Band

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Hodges Bend Middle School Honors Band (Bobby Brown, conductor) - 1993

State Ratings

Alabama: Class CC
Georgia: V
Louisiana: III
Maryland: IV
Massachusetts: IV
Michigan: Senior High B
Oklahoma: III-A
South Carolina: IV
Texas: III. Complete
Virginia: V

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Iowa (Iowa City) Concert Band (Kara Metzger, conductor) - 5 December 2022
University of North Carolina, Greensboro, University Band (Pamela L. Klena, conductor, conductor) – 30 November 2016
California State University Symphonic Band (Jermie S. Arnold, conductor) – 6 October 2016
University of Missouri (Columbia) University Band (Steve Eubanks, conductor) – 3 May 2016
American Canyon (Calif.) High School Wind Ensemble (Matthew J. Smith, conductor) - 11 March 2016 (2016 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
Central Connecticut State University Symphonic Band (Lauren Heller, conductor) - November 2013

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

Scalin' and Wailin' (Flex instrumentation) (2018)

All Wind Works

A+ (1998)
And Flights of Angels Sing Thee to Thy Rest (2000)
Ask the Sky and the Earth (as transcriber) (2009)
Bell Piece (as editor)
Butterflies and Bees! (1999)
Century Shouts (2012)
Ceremonial March, A
Corpus Callosum (1999/2003)
Crystals (1985/1992)
Gnomon
I Sing the Body Eclectic (for flute choir)
I Sit Alone in Martin's Church (1998/2003)
Little Snakes (in the Lighthouse)
Max the King
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (1992)
Philosopher's Stone, The
Pilgrims' Progress (1992)
Power and Light (2020)
The Promise of Living (as transcriber) (1954/1956/2000)
Scalin' and Wailin' (Flex instrumentation) (2018)
Snakes! (1991)
Song of Hiawatha (1995)
Stomp Your Foot (as transcriber) (1954/1956/2000)
Three Places in New Haven (2001)
Whispers of the Patriots (1993)
Zephyrs

Resources

Duffy, T. (1992). Crystals: For Symphonic Wind Ensemble [score]. Ludwig Masters; Boca Raton, Fla.
Miles, Richard B., and Larry Blocher. 2002. Teaching Music Through Performance in Band. Volume 4. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 301-315.
Smith, Norman E. (2002). Program Notes for Band. Chicago: GIA Publications, pp. 180