Groovy Loops

From Wind Repertory Project
Scott McKenzie

Scott McKenzie


General Info

Year: 2013
Duration: c. 4:55
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Saxophone quartet
Publisher: J. Scott McKenzie
Cost: Score and Parts - $100.00   |   Score Only - $30.00


Instrumentation

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

  • Bass Drum
  • Bells
  • Cabasa
  • Chimes
  • Cowbell
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Ride Cymbal
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Temple Blocks
  • Tom-toms
  • Triangle
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

I wrote the original Groovy Loops for saxophone quartet just a few years after college. After writing a piece, I usually move on to other projects and try to leave older ones alone, even if I later think of some things I could’ve done differently or better. I have also shied away from rearranging pieces for instrumentation that differs from the original, since I typically consider the orchestration or color of a new piece as inseparable from other musical elements like melody, harmony, or texture.

But for some reason, Groovy Loops is a piece I’ve revisited a couple of times. A few years ago, I arranged it for string orchestra so I could devote more time to explore the unfamiliar territory of string sounds and less on writing new material. Once that was done, I once again put the piece aside; I figured I was done tinkering with it. Deep down, however, I always thought it would work well in a full band setting.

I got the chance when Dave McKee wrote me and asked if I had a short piece for the Virginia Tech Symphonic Wind Ensembleʼs upcoming performance at Carnegie Hall. I didn’t feel like I had anything in my catalogue that would appropriately fill the spot, but offered up the suggestion to arrange an older piece. It seemed appropriate for a number of reasons: the ensemble was looking for a piece to buffer a slow piece from a full symphony, there was only a few minutes to spare before the program became too long, and since I had only a month to meet deadline, the option of writing something completely new was dangerous, to say the least.

In adapting a saxophone quartet for wind ensemble, I obviously expanded the color palette, but also added a few moving lines, percussive effects, and richer harmonies that were unavailable to the smaller ensemble. I also added a couple of modulations to accommodate some specific instrumental range issues. Finally, I lengthened opening and closing sections and incorporated silences that “bookend” the piece a little more substantively than the original.

This arrangement is dedicated to my mentor, teacher, and friend David McKee.

- Program Note by composer


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • University of Wisconsin-Parkside Wind Ensemble (Laura Rexroth, conductor) - 20 October 2022
  • University of California, Los Angeles, Wind Ensemble (Travis Cross, conductor) – 22 April 2022 (2022 San Joaquin Valley (Calif.) Concert Band Invitational)
  • University of Texas (Austin) Symphony Band (Michael Lebrias, conductor) – 28 March 2022
  • Henderson State University (Arkadelphia, Ark.) Wind Ensemble (John Webb, conductor) – 7 February 2020
  • James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Concert Band (J. Scott McKenzie, conductor) – 18 November 2019
  • West Chester (Penn.) University Wind Ensemble (Andrew Yozviak, conductor) – 26 September 2019
  • NorthWinds Symphonic Band (Kansas City, Mo.) (John Bell, conductor) - 5 May 2019
  • California State University, Stanislaus, Wind Ensemble (Stuart Sims, conductor) – 6 December 2018
  • Illinois State University (Normal) Symphonic Band (Polly K. Middleton, conductor) – 1 March 2018
  • Nature Coast Community Band (Beverly Hills, Fla.) (Cindy Hazzard, conductor) – 4 May 2017 (ACB 2017 Annual Convention (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.))
  • Northwest Missouri State University (Maryville) Wind Symphony (John Bell, conductor) – 8 December 2015
  • University of California, Los Angeles, Wind Ensemble (Travis J. Cross, conductor) - 19 February 2015 (2015 CMEC Conference, Fresno)


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources