Moonscape Awakening

From Wind Repertory Project
Joni Greene

Joni Greene


General Info

Year: 2007 / 2010
Duration: c. 7:55
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Manhattan Beach Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $135.00   |   Score Only (print) - $22.50


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
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 Trumpet I-II
Horn in F I-II
Trombone I-II
Euphonium
Tuba
Piano (optional)
Timpani
Percussion, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Glockenspiel
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tubular Bells
  • Vibraphone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Moonscape Awakening came to life not long ago during the Oregon Bach Festival. During the festival I was approached by band director James Geiger who was looking to commission a work for his band at West Laurens High School in Dublin, Georgia. Mr. Geiger specifically asked for a work in the spirit of my choral piece Autumn Reflections, which focuses on warm colors and scenic imagery.

Thus the inspiration for Moonscape Awakening begins with the presentation of color and texture within the choirs of the wind ensemble. The title is descriptive of a shimmering moon that slowly rises and bursts into an awakening of full presence and intensity. The process of progression to the moon's zenith is presented musically as a slow building of melody, texture, note duration and range

Moonscape Awakening comprises several layered melodic strands. The work's motivic fragments are derived from a solo in the bass clarinet. The full presentation of this main theme is embedded at several points in the work and serves as a melodic echo throughout. Along with the theme's motivic fragments, rising flourishes of sixteenth notes add to the progression of intensity and arrival. After the apex, a journey of releasing tension begins through a spinning out of melodic ideas in the brass and woodwind choirs. The work comes to a close after a final resonating chord with the return of the solo flute.

Moonscape Awakening received its premiere on May 6, 2008, by the West Laurens Wind Ensemble, conducted by James Geiger.

- Program Note by composer


Awards

  • Frank Ticheli Composition Contest, third place (tie)


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Symphonic Band (Jerry Luckhardt, conductor) - 17 October 2023
  • University of California Santa Barbara Wind Ensemble (Andy Radford, conductor) - 1 June 2023
  • University of California (Berkeley) University Wind Ensemble (Matthew Sadowski, conductor) - 1 May 2022
  • Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Symphony Band (Jason Gardner, conductor) - 5 October 2021
  • University of Northern Colorado (Greeley) Wind Ensemble (Wesley J. Broadnax, conductor) – 13 February 2020
  • University of California, Los Angeles, (UCLA) Wind Ensemble (Doris Doyon Vann, conductor) – 6 November 2019
  • Contra Costa Wind Symphony (Walnut Creek, Calif.) (Brad Hogarth, conductor) – 23 October 2019
  • Indiana State University (Terre Haute) Wind Symphony (Nikk Pilato, conductor) - 17 October 2019
  • Texas Woman's University (Denton) Wind Symphony (Carter Biggers, conductor) – 3 October 2019
  • State University of New York, Potsdam, Concert Band (Joshua Roach, conductor) – 27 February 2019
  • Tel-Aviv (Israel) University Wind Orchestra (Uri Reisner, Conductor) - 28 January 2019
  • University of Illinois (Champaign) University Band ( Joe Clark, conductor) – 14 November 2018
  • University of North Texas (Denton) University Band (Jacqueline Townsend, conductor) - 9 November 2016
  • SUNY Potsdam Symphonic Band (Bryan Doyle, conductor) – 21 April 2016
  • The SUNY Potsdam (N.Y.) Crane Wind Ensemble (Brian Doyle, conductor) – 11 March 2016 (CBDNA 2016 Eastern Division Conference, New London, Conn.)


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

  • Green, J. [2010]. Moonscape Awakening: For Concert Band [score]. Manhattan Beach Music: Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Joni Greene website Accessed 21 February 2016