Engelsflügel
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The title translates from the German as "Wings of Angels."
General Info
Year: 2013
Duration: c. 10:00
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Boosey & Hawkes
Cost: Score and Parts – Rental
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo/Flute II-III
Flute I
Oboe I
English Horn/Oboe II
Bassoon I-II
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
Piccolo Trumpet
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Tuba
Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV
(percussion detail desired)
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
On my first visit to Louisville University in 2009, I had the great pleasure of hearing the University’s Wind Symphony in full flight: confident, marvelous playing of strong and robust music. It’s such a wonderful tradition in American universities, and Louisville seems particularly well catered for in this regard, with great players and excellent teaching and direction. Having been asked by the University to write a work for Fred Speck and his Wind Symphony, I thought from the outset it would be fascinating to write a somewhat atypical piece for an ensemble of such potent sonic potential: quiet, fragile music that only hints momentarily at the latent power within its instrumental line-up.
What emerged is entitled Engelsflügel or Wings of Angels, a short essay in mostly hushed, inward, even flighty textures. It found its beginnings in a set of piano pieces of mine that paid homage to the piano music of Johannes Brahms. Having started out as an examination and exploration of the very particular accompanying figurations found in Brahms’ songs and duo sonatas, Engelsflügel took on a life of its own as I investigated the many timbral possibilities of this ensemble. The music oscillates between secretive whispers, cascading wind arpeggios and austere, almost funereal brass chorales.
- Program note by composer
Awards
- Engelsflügel has been recommended as interesting, serious and distinctive music by members of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE).
Media
(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Louisville (Ky.) Wind Ensemble (Amy I. Acklin, conductor) – 15 July 2015 - WASBE Conference, San Jose, Calif.
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Engelsflügel (2013)
- Night's Journey (1997)
Resources
- Dean, B. (2013). Engelsflügel for Winds, Brass and Percussion; 2013 [score]. Boosey & Hawkes: Berlin.