Manhattan Roll

Robert Beaser

General Info

Year: 1998 / 2010
Duration: c. 7:00
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Orchestra
Publisher: Schott Music Distribution
Cost: Score and Parts - Rental | Score Only (print) - $69.95

Instrumentation

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

Anvil
Bongos (2)
Cabasa (2)
Claves
Cowbell (2)
Crash Cymbals (2)
Crotales
Drum Set
Glockenspiel
Gong (high)
Guiro (regular and metal)
Hi-Hat
Maracas (low and high)
Marimba
Military Drum
Ratchet
Sandpaper Blocks
Snare Drum
Steel Pipes (4)
Suspended Cymbal (2)
Tambourine
Tam-Tam (2)
Temple Blocks (2)
Triangle
Tubular Bells
Vibraphone
Vibra-slap
Wood Block (2)
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Already beloved in its original orchestral version which premiered at the New York Philharmonic in 1998, the new transcription of Manhattan Rolls offers a challenging, unique and engaging addition to the wind band repertoire, and the premiere performance was the highlight of the 2010 Midwest Band Clinic.

Beaser comments on the original version:

Manhattan Roll is rather atypical for me: it’s highly rhythmic, whereas my music tends to be more lyrical, though also dramatic and rhythmic up to a point. Here we have a piece that starts loud -- fast and raucous -- and displays strong syncopation, mixing vibrant Latin-inspired rhythms with more traditional rhythmic notation.

- Program Note from publisher

Commissioned in a consortium led by Steven D. Davis and the UMKC Conservatory Wind Symphony, 2010.

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Texas A&M, Commerce, Wind Ensemble (Philip L. Clements, conductor) - 2013
Audio flash drive: Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond) Symphonic Band (Andrew J. Putnam, conductor) – 2020

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

University of Oregon (Eugene) Wind Ensemble (Dennis Llinás, conductor) - 15 April 2022
Eastern Kentucky University (Richmond) Symphonic Band (Andrew J. Putnam, conductor) – 22 February 2020 (CBDNA 2020 Southern Division Conference, Natchitoches, La.)
University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) Symphony Band (Michael Haithcock, conductor) – 18 November 2016
Sam Houston State University Wind Ensemble (Jeff Summers, conductor) – 19 November 2015
Michigan State University (East Lansing) Wind Symphony (John T. Madden, conductor) – March 1, 2012 (ABA 2012 Annual Convention (Indianapolis, Indiana))
Ball State University (Muncie, Ind.) Wind Ensemble (Thomas Caneva, conductor) – 23 March 2011 (CBDNA 2011 National Conference, Seattle, Wash.)
University of Missouri-Kansas City (Mo.) Conservatory Wind Symphony (Steven D. Davis, conductor) – 18 December 2010 (2010 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Double Chorus (tr. Jared Staub) (1991/ )
End of Knowing, The (2014)
Manhattan Roll (1998/2010)

Resources

Beaser, R. (2010). Manhattan Roll: For Wind Ensemble [score]. Schott: New York.
Vondran, Shawn D. "Manhattan Roll." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 9, edit. & comp. by Richard Miles, 934-943. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2013.