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Divertimento for Brass and Percussion
Contents
General Info
Year: 1957
Duration: c. 10:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Associated Music Publishers
Cost: Score and Parts - Rental
Movements
1. Overture - 1:35
2. Scherzo – 1:20
3. Song – 1:50
4. Slovak Dance – 4:15
Instrumentation
Full Score
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II, including:
- Bass Drum
- Crash Cymbals
- Gong
- Orchestra Bells (or Vibraphone)
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Divertimento for Brass and Percussion (1958) is a tonal piece illustrating the Czech dance rhythms and melodies in a contemporary setting. It consists of four modest movements, calling for three trumpets, four horns, three trombones, tuba, and two percussion. Husa composed Divertimento early in his tenure at Cornell. The Divertimento is a re-orchestrated, four-movement excerpt of his Eight Czech Duets for four-hand piano. Husa dedicated the duets to his young daughters, wanting to share with them his interpretation of their Czech heritage.
The work received its premiere in February 1960 by the Ithaca Brass Ensemble with Robert Prins conducting.
- Program Note from Illinois State University Symphonic Winds concert program, 23 March 2016
The Divertimento for Brass and Percussion was premiered on February 17, 1960, by the Ithaca Brass Ensemble. The following day, a review of the performance was written in the Ithaca Journal: "The Divertimento of Karel Husa received a first performance worthy of its musical qualities. Of all the works played at the concert, this Divertimento gave the most powerful impression that its unique medium is the brass ensemble."
Eight years later, Husa transcribed his work for brass quintet, and dedicated the new version to the Ithaca College Faculty Brass Quintet. His Bohemian legacy was expressed through song forms and modal melody present in the work. The first movement, Overture, is in AABA form, featuring a modal melody with polychordal accompaniment. The second movement, Scherzo, is in ABA form, with expressive polychords and ostinatos throughout the entire movement. The contrasting tranquil third movement, titled Der Abend (Evening), is based upon the humorous folksong, Oj dyby ne šafáře. The last movement, Slovak Dance, features a principal theme performed by the tuba, who introduces the Slovak dance tune Vrtena, followed by two variations. The movement increases gradually in tempo and complexity through to the end.
- Program Note from University of Texas Wind Symphony concert program, 22 February 2016
Commercial Discography
- Audio CD: North Texas Wind Symphony (Eugene Migliaro Corporon, conductor) - 2011
- Audio CD: Ithaca College Wind Ensemble members (Rodney Winther, conductor) - 2002
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- North Dakota State University (Fargo) Wind Symphony (Matthew Winarski, conductor) - 22 November 2020
- Marshall University (Huntington, W. Va.) Symphonic Band (Christopher Schletter, conductor) - 19 November 2020
- Lee University (Cleveland, Tenn.) Wind Ensemble (David Holsinger, conductor) - 12 November 2020
- Mississippi College (Clinton) Concert Winds (Craig Young, conductor) - 10 November 2020
- Texas Tech University (Lubbock) Symphonic Band (Eric Allen, conductor) - 5 November 2020
- South Carolina Governor’s School of the Arts (Greenville) Wind Ensemble (David Hamilton, conductor) - 10 March 2020
- University of Central Florida (Orlando), Symphonic Band Chamber Winds (Kirsten Hoogstraten, conductor) - 22 April 2019
- University of Missouri, Kansas City, Wind Symphony (Steven D. Davis, conductor) – 12 March 2019
- University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Wind Ensemble (JoAnn Wieszczyk, conductor) – 26 October 2018
- Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, Ark.) Wind Ensemble (Steven M. Knight, conductor) – 7 October 2018
- Ithaca College Wind Ensemble (Ithaca, N.Y.) (Aaron Burgess, conductor) - 5 April 2018
- Eastman Wind Orchestra (Rochester, N.Y.) (William Talley, conductor) – 2 April 2018
- North Dakota State University (Fargo) Wind Symphony (Warren Olfert, conductor) - 3 December 2017
- The Hartt Wind Ensemble (West Hartford, Conn.) (Thomas Duffy, conductor) - 20 October 2017
- University of Texas (Austin) Wind Symphony (Pamornpan Komolpamorn, conductor) – 22 February 2017
- University of Miami (Fla.) Frost Wind Ensemble (Chee Weng Yim, conductor) – 22 September 2016
- Illinois State University (Normal) Symphonic Winds (Martin H. Seggleke, conductor) – 23 March 2016
- University of New Hampshire (Durham) Wind Symphony members (Sean Meagher, conductor) – 2015
- Lynn Conservatory of Music (Boca Raton, Fla.) Wind Ensemble (Kenneth Amis, conductor) – 22 January 2009
Works for Winds by this Composer
- Al Fresco (1973)
- Apotheosis of this Earth (1970)
- Cheetah (2007)
- Concertino for Piano and Wind Ensemble (1984)
- Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Concert Band (1967)
- Concerto for Percussion and Wind Ensemble (1970)
- Concerto for Trumpet and Wind Orchestra
- Concerto for Wind Ensemble (1982)
- Divertimento for Brass and Percussion (1957)
- Divertimento for Symphonic Winds and Percussion (arr. John Boyd) (1995)
- Fanfare for Brass and Percussion (1981)
- Les Couleurs Fauves (1996)
- Music for Prague 1968 (1968)
- Smetana Fanfare (1984)
Resources
- Girsberger, Russ. Percussion Assignments for Band & Wind Ensemble. Volume I: A-K. Galesburg, MD: Meredith Music Publications, 2004, 160. Print.
- Heritage Encyclopedia of Band Music. "Karel Husa." Accessed 1 April 2016
- Karel Husa, Wikipedia Accessed 1 April 2016