Nitro

From Wind Repertory Project
Frank Ticheli

Frank Ticheli


General Info

Year: 2006
Duration: c. 2:45
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Manhattan Beach Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $165.00   |   Score Only (print) - $18.50


Instrumentation

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

  • Bass Drum (large)
  • Bongos
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Glockenspiel
  • Slapstick (large)
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal (medium-large)
  • Tambourine
  • Tom-tom (small)
  • Triangles (2: medium and large)
  • Xylophone


Errata

Ticheli Errata

In Parts:

  • Percussion 2, m. 47-48: rehearsal mark for 47 is above measure 48, the 3/4 bar; it should be "moved back one bar" to measure 47


In Score:

  • Trumpet I-II-III, m. 96-end: There should be one flat in the key signature. (The correct key signature is present in the parts, but not in the score.)


In Score and Parts:

  • Piccolo, m.92: A-flat, not A-natural
  • Flute I, m.81: High a-flat, not c-flat.
  • Clarinet I, m.89: The F-sharp on beat 4 should be a F-natural.
  • Clarinet I, m.102: middle note of triplet on beat 4 is D-flat, not D-natural
  • Clarinet II, m.89: The F-sharp on beat 4 should be a F-natural.
  • Bass Clarinet, m.24: F-sharp, not G
  • Tenor Saxophone, m.24: F-sharp, not G
  • Horn in F II, m.76: both D's on the and of 3 and the and of 4 should be D-flats
  • Tuba, m.10: The two notes that are notated on the upbeat of beat two should be moved earlier to the downbeat of beat 2 (as in bassoons)*

*A corrected Tuba part can be found in the Discussion tab, above


Program Notes

Nitro, an energy-charged three-minute fanfare for band, was commissioned by the Northshore Concert Band, Mallory Thompson, music director, in celebration of their 50th anniversary season, and received its premiere performance by them on April 9th, 2006.

Nitrogen is the most abundant component of the Earth’s atmosphere (78 per cent by volume), and is present in the tissues of every living thing. It is the fifth most abundant element in the universe, created by the fusion deep within stars; it has recently been detected in interstellar space. The sheer prevalence of nitrogen in all of nature, and the infinite range of compounds it is part of — life-giving, energizing, healing, cleansing, explosive — all appealed to me, and served as the inspiration for my music.

The main musical idea for Nitro is a powerful, angular theme, first announced by the trombones and horns, and then imitated in the trumpets. Trumpet fanfare calls and a busy and relentless chattering in the woodwinds enhance the bright, festive mood.

The middle section is based on a woodwind theme that is partly fanfare-like, partly dance-like. This contrasting theme is built from intervals occurring in the natural overtone series (octave and twelfth), giving it an expansive, open-air quality. The main theme reappears, growing in power and density all the while, building to a thunderous conclusion.

- Program Note by composer


Media


State Ratings

  • Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP II
  • Kansas: IV
  • Louisiana: V
  • Maryland: V
  • Michigan: Senior High A
  • North Carolina: VI
  • Texas: IV. Complete


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Youngstown (Ohio) State University Wind Ensemble (Michael Scott Butler, conductor) - 15 October 2023
  • Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Va.) Wind Ensemble (Baxley Roberts, conductor) - 23 February 2023
  • Stony Brook (N.Y.) University Wind Ensemble (Justin R. Stolarik, conductor) - 16 November 2022
  • Baylor University (Waco, Tx.) Symphonic Band (Stuart Ivey, conductor) - 11 October 2021
  • Texas Christian University (Ft. Worth) Symphonic Band (Brian Youngblood, conductor) - 28 April 2021
  • Stephen F. Austin University (Nacogdoches, Tx.) Wind Symphony (Tamey Anglley, conductor) - 25 April 2021
  • University of Oklahoma (Norman) Sooner Campus Band (Brian Wolfe, conductor) – 1 March 2020
  • University of Kansas (Lawrence) Wind Ensemble (Paul Popiel, conductor) – 1 February 2020
  • University of British Columbia (Vancouver) Concert Winds (Christian Reardon MacLellan, conductor) – 22 November 2019
  • Boston University (Mass.) Wind Ensemble (David Martins, conductor) – 21 November 2019
  • Cuesta Wind Ensemble (San Luis Obispo, Calif.) (Jennifer Martin, conductor) – November 17, 2019
  • Tallahassee (Fla.) Winds (Patrick Dunnigan, conductor) – 1 October 2019
  • Lowcountry Community Concert Band (Bluffton, S.C.) (David Carbone, conductor) – 14 May 2019
  • University of Illinois (Champaign) Campus Concert Band (Barry L. Houser, conductor) – 25 April 2019
  • Bixby (Ok.) High School Wind Ensemble (Jeremy W. Parker, conductor) – 24 February 2019
  • Sacramento (Calif.) State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Matthew Morse, conductor) – 5 December 2018
  • St. Louis (Mo.) Wind Symphony (Thomas Poshak, conductor) – 11 November 2018
  • Northwest Missouri State University Wind Symphony (John Bell, conductor) – 18 October 2018
  • Shenandoah Conservatory (Winchester, Va.) Concert Band (Alan Johnson, conductor) – 11 October 2018
  • World Youth Wind Orchestra Project (WYWOP) (Schladming, Austria) (Frank Ticheli, conductor) – 14 July 2018
  • University of Kansas (Lawrence) Symphonic Band (Brooke Humfeld, conductor) – 3 May 2018
  • Cerritos (Calif.) College Concert Band (David Betancourt, conductor) – 18 March 2018 (2018 Sutherland Wind Festival (Fresno, Calif.)
  • Northshore Concert Band (Mallory Thompson, conductor) - 9 April 2006 *Premiere Performance*


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources