Elytra
General Info
Year: 2022
Duration: c. 10:35
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Paul Dooley
Cost: Score and Parts – Rental | Score Only (print) - $70.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
C or B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion (5 players), including:
- *Bass Drum (large)
- *Cabasa
- *Cowbell
- *Crash Cymbal
- *Glockenspiel
- *Marimba
- *Sizzle Cymbal
- *Snare Drum
- *Suspended Cymbal
- *Tambourine
- *Tam-tam
- *Triangle (2; small and large)
- *Woodblock
- *Vibraphone
- *Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Elytra was commissioned by the United States Navy Band, conducted by Captain Kenneth C. Collins for their 2022 Midwest Clinic performances and 2023 National Tour.
Originally I was inspired by the incredible naval aviation technology of the F/A-18F Super Hornets and F-14 Tomcats. But in my research I discovered the equally impressive biological mechanics found in nature’s aviators like the fireflies, ladybugs, and other beetles. They possess elytra, a remarkable set of high-strength, lightweight wings that both protect the body and facilitate flight.
The elytra soundscape “took flight” with muted brass clusters, pulsating augmented chords, scraped cymbals and bluesy melodies. In the dark middle section, I imagine one of our beetle friends burrowed into tree roots, before lifting off again, buzzing along close to earth at a high rate of speed.
- Program note by composer
Media
None discovered thus far.
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Showa University of Music (Kawasaki, Japan) Wind Symphony (Eugene Migliaro Corporon, Conductor) - 3 June 2023
- United States Navy Band (Washington, D.C.) I (Kenneth C. Collins, conductor) - 19 December 2022 (2022 Midwest Clinic) *Premiere Performance*
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Boom Goes the Dynamite (2023)
- Canticles (2022)
- Circus Overture (as transcriber) (2015)
- Coast of Dreams (2014)
- Elytra (2022)
- Manifestos (2019)
- March Jubilee (2020/2022)
- Masks and Machines (2015)
- Masks and Machines (chamber instrumentation) (2015/2020)
- Mavericks (2016)
- Meditation at Lagunitas (2014)
- Mondrian's Studio (2019)
- Point Blank (2010)
- Point Blank (Chamber instrumentation) (2010/2020)
- Salt of the Earth (2012)
- The Spellbook (2019)
- Three Futurist Symphonies
- Velocity Festivals. See: Coast of Dreams
- Yellow Red Blue (2021)
Resources
- Paul Dooley website Accessed 11 December 2022
- Perusal Score