Deerpath Dances

From Wind Repertory Project
David Holsinger

David Holsinger


General Info

Year: 1996
Duration: c. 3:00
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: TRN Music Publisher, Inc.
Cost: Score and Parts - $90.00   |   Score Only - $8.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoons
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-f;at Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Claves
  • Cowbell
  • Cymbals
  • Jingle Bells
  • Marimba
  • Orchestra Bells
  • Snare Drum
  • Tambourine
  • Temple Blocks
  • Tom-Toms (4)
  • Triangle
  • Wood Block
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The wonder of imagination is that certain words, when you first hear them, produce mental images that stir the visionary juices of the creative process. Such a word was "deerpath". Now beyond the obvious, my imagination ran rampant thinking in "James Fenimore Cooper Mode": early colonial days, the opening frontier, the colonization wars of early America, specifically the French and Indian campaigns of the 1700's... Anyway, I was sure I had happened upon THE true and positive historical factor that would make this piece blossom into an epic picture of early America...But wrong! (Cue big red X buzzer, audience sighs in unison: disappointed "Ooooooooh!").

In talking to summer employees at Deer Path School, I discovered that it is named only for Deer Path Road, on which it resides ... and city officials had no idea why the road was so named . . . The most reliable source I spoke with said the name seemed "country romantic" ... a spark of revelation from the subdivision contractor, no doubt!

Well, Heather Pettit is excited about her band. She knows them inside out, high and low, and she wrote me about them and the expectations she had for the coming year. Her letters literally oozed with enthusiasm! And THAT was the factor that sparked this piece: an upbeat, rhythmic dance episode dedicated simply to the joy of a group of young musicians and teacher excited about a piece of music they can call their own!

And for you who follow, I invite you to take up the standard! After all, we all need a little bit of excited joy for life to be complete! So ooze some happy music of your own!

Commissioned by Deer Path Junior High School Band, Lake Forest, Illinois, Heather Pettit, director of bands

- Program Notes by composer


Media


State Ratings

  • North Carolina: IV


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Junior Massachusetts Youth Wind Ensemble (Boston) (Jared Cassidy, conductor) - 7 December 2021


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources