Interruption Overture
General Info
Year: 1998
Duration: c. 5:20
Difficulty: II (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $95.00 | Score Only (print) - $20.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
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 I-II
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion, including:
- Xylophone
- Bass Drum
- Snare Drum
- Crash Cymbals
- Suspended Cymbal
- Brake Drum
- Kick Drum
- Tam-Tam
- Tom-Tom
- Triangle
- Vibra-slap
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Interruption Overture is the musical inverse of Bryant's Chester Leaps In. In the latter, a familiar theme interrupts angular, dissonant music, whereas Interruption Overture consists of a straightforward theme in Bb major repeatedly interrupted by dissonant chords and bursts of simple aleatory ideas. These techniques are intended to serve as educational tools in addition to their musical function, exposing younger musicians to a broader-than-usual musical palette.
- Program Note from publisher
This was my first work created for very young / beginning musicians, was both a lot of fun and quite a challenge to write. Creating music which is simultaneously playable by beginning musicians, and fun to listen to, is not an easy task.
The music starts off deceptively with a rather straight-ahead theme in Bb major which is interrupted abruptly by dissonant chords. The theme resumes, but is repeatedly punctuated at various surprising moments by both dissonance and some simple aleatory. These techniques are intended to serve as educational tools in addition to their musical function, exposing younger musicians to a broader musical palette.
Thank you, William Kellerman and the Highland Park Educational Foundation for raising the funds to make this commission possible. I believe such active community involvement is one of the most powerful tools in furthering education, and consequently strengthening the health and vigor of our society.
- Program Note by composer
Most of Bryant's music relies on high energy and speed, all scored at tessatura extremes for instrumentalists. For Interruption Overture, he set aside these elements and focused on creating musical tension and excitement through the contrast of "familiar"-sounding material combined with interruptions of dissonant and aleatoric bursts of sound.
- Program Note from Teaching Music Through Performance in Band
Media
State Ratings
- Georgia: IV
- Louisiana: II
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Webb City (Mo.) High School Symphonic Band – 8 May 2017
- Bartle School Sixth-Grade Band (Highland Park, N.J.) (William Kellerman, conductor) – 21 May 1998
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Dusk (Four-part Adaptable Band) (2004/2020)
- Dusk (Five-part Adaptable Band) (2004/2020)
- In This Broad Earth (Adaptable Band) (2015/2020)
- The Low Arc of the Sun (Adaptable Band) (2017/2021)
- The Machine Awakes (Five-part Adaptable Band) (2012/2020)
- MetaMarch (Six-part Adaptable Band) (arr. Ambrose) (2003/2020)
All Wind Works
- Alchemy in Silent Spaces (2001)
- Aloft (2023)
- all stars are love (2014)
- Anthem (Bryant) (2011)
- The Automatic Earth (2019)
- Axis Mundi (2009)
- Bloom (2004)
- A Brighter Light (2021)
- Centennial Chimes (2021)
- Chester Leaps In. See: Parody Suite)
- A Chorus Loud and Strong (2021)
- Coil (2014)
- Concerto for Alto Saxophone (2014)
- Concerto for Cello and Orchestral Winds
- Concerto for Piano and Orchestral Winds & Percussion (2012)
- Concerto for Trombone 2016
- Concerto for Wind Ensemble (2010)
- Dusk (2004)
- Dusk (Four-part Adaptable Band) (2004/2020)
- Dusk (Five-Part Adaptable Band) (2004/2020)
- Ecstatic Fanfare (2012)
- Ecstatic Fanfare (arr. Lourens) (2012/2015)
- Ecstatic Waters (2008)
- First Light
- Impercynations (see Parody Suite)
- Idyll (2013)
- In This Broad Earth (2015)
- In This Broad Earth (for brass ensemble) (2015/2017)
- In This Broad Earth (Adaptable Band) (2015/2020)
- Interruption Overture (1998)
- Interruptions
- Irrational Joy (2017)
- Loose Id (2006)
- The Low Arc of the Sun (Adaptable Band) (2017/2021)
- The Machine Awakes (2012)
- The Machine Awakes (Five-part Adaptable Band) (2012/2020)
- The Marbled Midnight Mile (1999)
- MetaMarch. See: Parody Suite)
- MetaMarch (Six-part Adaptable Band) (arr. Ambrose) (2003/2020)
- A Million Suns at Midnight
- Miniature Suite (2017)
- Monkey
- Nothing Gold Can Stay (2016)
- Paean
- Parody Suite
- Pendulum (2018)
- Radiant Joy (2006)
- RedLine
- Rise (2003)
- sevenfive
- Solace (2012)
- Stampede (2003)
- Suite Dreams. See: Parody Suite)
- This Silver World (2023)
- Whirlwind (2013)
- Wings That Work (2003)
Resources
- Perusal score
- Steven Bryant website Accessed 27 June 2018
- Whitlock, Mark. "Interruption Overture." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 11, Compiled and edited by Richard Miles, 215-224. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2018.