Fanfare to "The Hammer"

From Wind Repertory Project
Anthony O'Toole

Anthony O'Toole


General Info

Year: 2013
Duration: c. 2:35
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Bandworks Publications
Cost: Score and Parts - $80.00   |   Score Only - $7.50


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II
Trombone
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Triangle


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Fanfare to “The Hammer” was written as a musical tribute to Hank Aaron (1934-2021), the legendary baseball player. Hank Aaron’s long career in the sport is full of notable achievements and milestones. While foremost paying tribute to this great slugger and his achievements, overall the piece evokes the imagery and experience of attending a baseball game and playing a game at the playground on a hot summer day or even just playing catch with your father in the backyard. I remember all those things a kid: playing in little league, playing in the street with friends and collecting the cards. Baseball holds a special place in the heart of most Americans. It is more than just a sport; it’s our pastime.

- Program Note by composer


Dedicated to my friend and mentor, Dr. Jack Stamp.

- Program Note from score


O'Toole uses several concepts borrowed from Jack Stamp's 1999 baseball piece, Pastime. These include using the combined slapstick and woodblock to simulate the crack of a baseball being hit by a bat, and the rhythm of O'Toole's Take Me Out to the Ballgame quote is rhythmically similar to that in Pastime.

- Program Note from Teaching Music through Performance in Band


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Golden Gate Park Band (San Francisco, Calif.) (Craig McKenzie, conductor) - 30 April 202
  • Florida Symphonic Winds (Clearwater) (Jeffrey Traster, conductor) - 16 July 2022
  • Sacramento (Calif.) State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Matthew Morse, conductor) - 8 December 2021
  • University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) Concert Band (Heath Nails, conductor) – 25 April 2018
  • University of North Texas (Denton) University Band (Kelly Desjardins, conductor) – 13 April 2016
  • Grand Street (Brooklyn, N.Y.) Community Band (Brian Worsdale, conductor) - 21 March 2015
  • Castle High School (Kaneohe, Hi.) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Arnold A. Alconcel, conductor) - 2014


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Anthony O'Toole website
  • Morse, Matthew C. "Fanfare to "The Hammer"." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 10, Compiled and edited by Richard Miles, 564-570. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2015.