Diversions (Spittal)
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Subtitle: For Solo Clarinet and Wind Ensemble
General Info
Year: 2018
Duration: c. 16:00
Difficulty: VI (solo); IV (ensemble) (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Robert Spittal
Cost: Score and Parts - April 2019
Movements
1. Diversion 1- West Coast Fanfares – 3:45
2. Diversion 2 - The Contrarian's Waltz – 4:12
3. Diversion 3- A Sentimental Chill – 1:47
4. Diversion 4- Pomp and Circus Dance – 1:28
5. Diversion 5- Klezmic – 4:09
Instrumentation
Full Score
Solo Clarinet
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion (5 players), including:
- Agogo Bells
- Bass Drum
- Bells
- Claves
- Crash Cymbals
- Hi-Hat
- Marimba
- Ride Cymbal
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
This entertaining and musically diverse divertimento in five movements is designed to feature an artist-level soloist, with a capable university, high school or community band of moderate technical proficiency.
- Program Note from publisher
After a performance of my Prelude and Flight for violin and band, Idaho State University Director of Bands Pat Brooks came to me with an interesting idea communicated to him by ISU clarinet professor Dr. Shandra Helman. The idea was for me to compose a piece for solo clarinet and wind ensemble that would feature a professional-level soloist with almost any high school or university band -- a grade 6 solo with a grade 4 accompaniment, if you will. Thus began the process resulting in Diversions, a divertimento in five movements for clarinet and wind ensemble. In 2017, Dr. Brooks arranged a consortium of twenty music institutions to commission me to complete Diversions. The piece was premiered by Dr. Helman and the Idaho State University Wind Ensemble, with the composer conducting, on February 23, 2018.
Diversion No. 1: West Coast Fanfares features boldly exciting opening and closing themes, juxtaposed with softer, more lyrical musical impressions that reflect my impressions of America’s West Coast.
Diversion No. 2: The Contrarian’s Waltz features two waltz tunes that are highly contrary to one another in style and mood -- one is lyrical and sweetly beautiful, while the other is a satirical parody of a Viennese waltz.
Diversion No. 3: A Sentimental Chill is a rhapsody about the mixed feelings of melancholy we sometimes feel when ruminating on the past.
Diversion No. 4: Pomp and Circus Dance is a clownish dance with humorous intent. The bass clarinet is a specialty of Dr. Helman’s, and this movement is especially effective when performed on that wonderful instrument. However, it may be played effectively on the soprano clarinet, as well.
Diversion No. 5: Klezmic refers to klezmer music and the clarinet’s prominent role in it. Klezmer as a musical tradition dates back to the 19thcentury and the Ashkenazi Jews of Eastern Europe. This movement brings the divertimento to a joyous and celebratory close.
- program Note by composer
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Banda Juvenil Conservatorio San Rafael de Buñol (Spain) (Francisco J. Haro de la Iglesia, conductor; Francisco Rodríguez Gutiérrez, clarinet) – 10 July 2019 - WASBE Conference (Buñol Spain)
- Andrews University (Berrien Springs, Mich.) Wind Symphony (Byron Graves, conductor; Jason Gresl, clarinet) – 13 April 2019
- Arizona State University (Tempe) Wind Ensemble (Justin Hubbard, conductor; Joshua Gardner, clarinet)- 5 February 2019
- Gonzaga University (Spokane, Wash.) Wind Ensemble (Robert Spittal, conductor; Shandra Helman, clarinet) – 18 November 2018
- Idaho State University (Pocatello) Wind Ensemble (Robert Spittal, conductor; Shandra Helman, clarinet) – 23 February 2018 *Premiere Performance*
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Pacem (Adaptable Band) (2005/2020)
- Suite Euphonious (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
- Winsome Variations (Flex instrumentation) (2019/2020)
All Wind Works
- Arise (2021)
- Blue Allusions (2020)
- Celestial Song (2014)
- Chinook Sketches
- Consort for Ten Winds (2005)
- Diversions (2018)
- Euphonious IV (2018)
- Tarantella Forsennato (2010)
- Lament (for a Fallen Friend)
- Mockingbird Rag
- Pacem (2005)
- Pacem (Adaptable Band) (2005/2020)
- Pacem (Brass Choir)
- Pineapple Frippery
- Prelude and Flight for Violin and Band (2014)
- Prelude and Scherzo
- Tarantella Forsennato (2005/2009)
- Scherzo: Cat and Mouse (2012)
- St George's Fanfare
- Suite Euphonious (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
- Winsome Variations (2019)
- Winsome Variations (Flex instrumentation) (2019/2020)
- Winter Dreams
Resources
- "DIVERSIONS by Robert Spittal (USA)." WASBE. Web. (Featured as WASBE’s Composition of the Week, 9 September 2019). Accessed 19 January 2023
- Robert Spittal, personal correspondence, June 2018
- Robert Spittal website Accessed 7 June 2018