Divertimento (Waespi)
General Info
Year: 2011
Duration: c. 16:00
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Bariato Music, through Music Shop Europe
Cost: Score and Parts - €350.46 | Score Only - €46.72
Movements (played without pause)
1. Prelude - 3:57
2. Meditation - 3:59
3. Procession - 2:52
4. Hoedown - 4:10
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo/Flute III
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn (optional)
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon (optional)
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet (optional)
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
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
Euphonium I-II
Tuba I-II
Cello (optional)
String Bass
Harp
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V-VI (VI optional), including:
- Bass Drum
- Bongos
- Cabasa
- Cajon
- Cowbell
- Crash Cymbal
- Drum Set
- Glockenspiel
- Hi-hat
- Shaker
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tam-tam
- Tom-tom
- Triangle
- Tubular Bells
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
This grand work contains four contrasting movements. The first movement, Prelude, takes the form of an overture: it raises the curtains and marks the beginning of the piece. The brilliant motifs of the opening are contrasted by a calmer and more lyrical central section, after which the triumphant opening returns for the movement’s end. The second movement, Meditation, explores the intimate sounds of the oboe, as well as those of the flute and French horn, backed by a rich orchestral accompaniment. The third movement presents a more upbeat Procession, but not a Procession of the Nobles, as written by Rimsky-Korsakov. Quite the opposite, Procession resembles a “second line” procession from New Orleans, whose up-beat rhythms invite everyone to dance in the streets rather than the measured pacing of a march. Divertimento ends with a Hoedown, the tradition American folk dance idiom, when the band has the opportunity for both vivacity and virtuosity and may play as fast as it can. It is important to play all four movements with precision, clarity and, most importantly, enthusiasm.
- Program Note from publisher
The piece was commissioned by the Swiss Wind Band Federation for the Eidgenoessisches Musikfest 2011 with the support by the SUISA Foundation for Music.
- Program Note from score
Media
- Audio CD: The Royal Symphonic Band of the Belgian Guides (Yves Segers, conductor) - 2011
- Audio CD: United States Air Force Band (Larry H. Lang, conductor) - 2017
State Ratings
Required work for the First Division Concours for the Royal Dutch Federation of Music Organization (KNFM) for Harmonie (wind ensemble) 2013.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Tyler (Tx.) Junior College Wind Ensemble (Jeremy Strickland, conductor) - 20 December 2023 (2023 Midwest Clinic)
- Amsterdamse Tramharmonie (Jacco Nefs, conductor) - October 2012
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Audivi Media Nocte (2011/2013)
- Berglicht (2008)
- Canzun (2008)
- Divertimento (Waespi) (2011)
- Eastbound (2019/2020)
- Fanfare and Funk (2006)
- Il Cantico (2005)
- Out of Earth (2015)
- Silberen (2019)
- Skies (2000)
- Suite for Wind Orchestra (1998)
- Temples (2006)
- Traversada (2013/2015)
Resources
- Oliver Waespi website Accessed 16 July 2023