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Divertimento (Bernstein)

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Leonard Bernstein

Leonard Bernstein (trans. Clare Grundman)


General Info

Year: 1980 / 1984
Duration: c. 14:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
Cost: Score and Parts - $125.00   |   Score Only - $24.50


Movements

1. Sennets and Tuckets - 1:20
2. Waltz - 2:24
3. Mazurka - 1:45
4. Samba - 0:56
5. Turkey Trot - 2:00
6. Sphinxes - 0:57
7. Blues - 1:40
8. March, “The BSO Forever” - 4:37


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II
B-flat Cornet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Basses
String Bass
Harp
Timpani
Percussion (8 players), including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bongos (3)
  • Chimes
  • Congas (2)
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Cuban cowbells (2)
  • Drum Set
  • Orchestra Bells
  • Rasp
  • Sandpaper Blocks
  • Snare Drums (4)
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Tam-Tam
  • Temple Blocks (4)
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Wood Block
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Leonard Bernstein's Divertimento is an expression of his love affair for the city of his youth and its symphony orchestra, for whose centennial celebration in 1980 it was written. It is a nostalgic album filled with affectionate memories of growing up in Boston, as well as a recollection of hearing live symphonic music for the first time in Symphony Hall, under the direction of Arthur Fiedler (which may account for some of the light-hearted nature of this work).

It is a series of vignettes based on two notes: B, for Boston and C, for Centennial. Most of these generate brief dances of varying character, from wistful to swaggering. Sennets and Tuckets (trumpet calls and flourishes signaling the ceremonial entrances and exits of Elizabethan actors) was originally to have been the entire composition, but an abundance of fun-filled transformations of the B-C motive suggested themselves to the composer in addition.

The work is filled with allusions to the repertoire that Bernstein grew up with in Symphony Hall. Some are quite obvious; others are secrets to be shared with the conductors and orchestra members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). For example, the final movement opens with a quiet meditation written for three flute players marked in the score In Memoriam, recalling the beloved conductors and orchestra of the BSO who are no longer with us.

- Program note by San Luis Obispo Wind Orchestra concert program, 12 May 2012


Media


State Ratings

  • Georgia: VI
  • Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
  • Louisiana: V
  • Michigan: Senior High AA
  • North Carolina: VI
  • South Carolina: Masterworks
  • Virginia: VI


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Indiana University (Bloomington) Symphonic Band (Eric M. Smedley, conductor) – 30 October 2022
  • James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Wind Symphony (Allison Satterwhite, conductor) – 4 December 2019
  • University of Georgia (Athens) Hodgson Wind Ensemble (Cynthia Johnston Turner, conductor) – 1 October 2019
  • Catskill Valley Wind Ensemble (Oneonta, N.Y.) (Scott Rabeler, conductor)– 28 April 2019
  • Texas Tech University (Lubbock) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Sarah McKoin, conductor) – 28 March 2019
  • Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Indiana, Penn.) Wind Ensemble (Timothy Paul, conductor) – 2 March 2019
  • Bowling Green (Ohio) State University Concert Band (Bruce Moss, conductor) – 29 November 2018
  • Austin (Tx.) Symphonic Band (Richard Floyd, conductor) – 18 November 2018
  • University of South Florida (Tampa) Wind Ensemble (Marc Sosnowchik, conductor) – 15 November 2018
  • Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisc.) Wind Ensemble (Andrew Mast, conductor) – 9 November 2018
  • Metropolitan Wind Symphony (Lexington, Mass). (Louis J. Buckley, conductor) – 4 November 2018
  • Butler University (Indianapolis, Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Michael Colburn, conductor) – 27 September 2018
  • Southeastern Louisiana University (Hammond) Wind Symphony (Derek Stoughton, conductor) - 24 September 2018
  • Arkansas State University (Jonesboro) Wind Ensemble (Timothy Oliver, conductor) - 20 September 2018
  • Atlanta (Ga.) Youth Wind Symphony (Scott A. Stewart, conductor) - 19 May 2018
  • The Ohio State University (Columbus) Wind Symphony (Kristin Lin, conductor) – 17 April 2018
  • Foothill Symphonic Winds (Palo Alto, Calif.) (David Bruce Adams, conductor) – 11 March 2018
  • United States Air Force Band (Washington, D.C.) (Larry H. Lang, conductor) – 3 February 2018
  • City of Fairfax (Va.) Band (Robert Pouliot, conductor) – 25 March 2017
  • University of Maryland (College Park) Wind Ensemble (Joseph P. Scott) – 9 December 2016


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

  • Cool (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Murtha) (1957/2018)
  • West Side Story (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Sweeney) (1957/2015)


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Bernstein, L.; Grundman, C. (1984). Divertimento for Symphonic Band [score]. Boosey & Hawkes: [New York].
  • Girsberger, Russ. Percussion Assignments for Band & Wind Ensemble. Volume I: A-K. Galesburg, MD: Meredith Music Publications, 2004, 39. Print.
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