Masque (Hesketh)
General Info
Year: 2001
Duration: c. 5:50
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Brass band
Publisher: Faber Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) – £49.00 | Score Only (print) - £7.99
Instrumentation
Full Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II (II doubling English Horn)
Bassoon I-II
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 Cornet I-II-III
B-flat Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium I-II
Tuba I-II
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion (3 players), including:
- Bass Drum
- Crash Cymbals
- Glockenspiel
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tambourine
- Tam-Tam
- Temple Block
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
- Whip
- Wood Block
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The Masque has had a varied history, certainly a varied spelling (masque, maske, even maskeling). However, the historian E.K. Chambers in his book The Medieval Stage defines the word in the following way: "A form of revel in which mummers or masked folk come, with torches blazing, into the festive hall uninvited and call upon the company to dance and dice."
The above description, I think, can also serve as a description to the piece. The main theme is certainly bravura and is often present, disguised, in the background. The form of the piece is a simple scherzo-trio-scherzo. Colourful scoring (upper wind solos, trumpet and horn solos alternating with full-bodied tuttis) with a dash of wildness is the character of this piece -- I hope it may tease both players and listener to let their hair down a little!
- Program Note by composer
Awards
- Masque has been recommended as interesting, serious and distinctive music by members of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE).
Media
- Audio CD: Tokyo Kosei Wind Ensemble (Douglas Bostock, conductor) – 2002
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Texas Christian University (Fort Worth) Symphonic Band (Brian Youngblood, conductor) - 16 October 2023
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte Wind Ensemble (Hunter Kopczynski, conductor) – 24 March 2023
- James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Wind Symphony (Stephen Bolstad, conductor) - 17 November 2022
- University of Cincinnati (Ohio) College-Conservatory of Music Wind Ensemble (Lion Brown, conductor) - 22 March 2022
- Southeastern Louisiana University (Hammond) Wind Symphony (Robert Schwartz, conductor) - 16 November 2021
- West Virginia University (Morgantown) Wind Symphony (Scott Tobias, conductor) - 30 March 2021
- Kent State University (Ohio) Wind Ensemble (Wendy K. Matthews, conductor) – 15 March 2020
- United States Air Force Band (Washington, D.C.) (Kerry Taylor, conductor) - 6 March 2020 (86th Annual ABA National Convention)
- Sonoma State University (Rohnert Park, Calif.) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Andy Collinsworth, conductor) – 11 December 2019
- University of Georgia (Athens) Hodgson Wind Symphony (Timothy Reynish, conductor) – 15 April 2019
- University of South Florida (Tampa) Wind Ensemble (Marc Sosnowchik, conductor) – 24 February 2019
- Collinsville (Il.) High School Wind Ensemble (Robert Wright, conductor) - 14 February 2019
- Oregon State University (Corvallis) Wind Symphony (Olin Hannum, conductor) – 27 November 2018
- University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) Symphonic Band (Randall O. Coleman, conductor)- 8 October 2018
- University of Georgia (Athens) Hodgson Wind Symphony (Jaclyn Hartenberger, conductor) – 19 September 2018
- Texas Tech University (Lubbock) Concert Band (Sarah McKoin, conductor) – 30 April 2018
- Sacramento (Calif.) Symphonic Winds (Tim Smith, conductor) – 18 March 2018
- University of Missouri, Kansas City, Wind Ensemble (Joseph Parisi, conductor) – 5 March 2018
- State University of New York, Potsdam, Symphonic Band (Brian K. Doyle, conductor) – 28 February 2018
- Baylor University (Waco, Tx.) Symphonic Band (Isaiah Odajima, conductor) - 20 November 2017
- University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire Wind Symphony (John R. Stewart, conductor) – 17 November 2017
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Along Dark Paths (2021)
- Autumn's Elegy (2013)
- The Cloud of Unknowing (2004/2015)
- Danceries (1999)
- Danceries (Set II) (2011)
- Diaghilev Dances (2002)
- A Festive Overture (2001)
- The Gilded Theatre (2008)
- In Ictu Oculi (2015)
- Infernal Ride (2003)
- Masque (2001)
- Vranjanka (2005)
- Whirlegigg (2003)
Resources
- Hesketh, K. (2001). Masque: For Symphonic Wind Band [score]. Faber: London.