Great Green Kazoo, The

From Wind Repertory Project
Carol Brittin Chambers

Carol Brittin Chambers


General Info

Year: 2021
Duration: c. 2:35
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Excelcia Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $65.00   |   Score Only - $10.00


Instrumentation

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

  • Bass Drum
  • Glockenspiel
  • Hi-hat
  • Marimba
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Tom-tom
  • Triangle


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The Great Green Kazoo was commissioned by the South East Junior High School Band in Iowa City, Iowa, Maddie Madsen, director. The piece was written in memory of Ezra Sheldon (May 29, 2006-August 11, 2020) and premiered in May 2021.

Ezra Sheldon was an eighth grade Bbassoon player who had a kind disposition and a great sense of humor. According to several people who knew him, when he was in elementary band, he would sometimes jokingly pull out a green kazoo in class and use that instead of his reed! Ezra loved classic rock, cars, computers and gadgets. Not only was he beginning to excel on bassoon; he was also learning trombone for jazz band. Given his appreciation for rock and jazz styles along with traditional concert band, he definitely loved it when pieces contained funky parts and cool grooves for the low reeds.

The piece begins with a calm, soulful melody which I named “Ezra’s Anthem.” It’s not long before it moves into a faster, upbeat, funk-style section. The main idea of funk is that there’s a strong bass line with an emphasis on count 1 every so often, but it’s not continuous. Then “in the windows,” so to speak, another line starts its own groove, and then a third line begins to fit yet another melody into the mix.

There are often syncopated rhythms and melodic patterns based on the pentatonic and blues scales. The middle section of the piece incorporates actual kazoos, which add a unique sound and of course pay tribute to Ezra. In the final section, we hear “Ezra’s Anthem” once again, but this time in a very upbeat, uplifting way.

- Program note by composer


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources