Of Blood and Stone

From Wind Repertory Project
Julie Giroux

Julie Giroux


Subtitle: The Pyramids of Giza


General Info

Year: 2015
Duration: c. 10:15
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Musica Propria
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $140.00   |   Score Only (print) - $30.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra-Alto Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass 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-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-VII, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bongos
  • Chimes
  • Conga
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Crotales
  • Egg Shaker
  • Finger Cymbals
  • Gong
  • Guiro
  • Maracas
  • Marimba
  • Mark Tree
  • Orchestra Bells
  • Sleigh Bells
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Timbales
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Vibra-slap
  • Wind Wand Bullroarers


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The Pyramids of Giza are the only ancient wonder of the world left standing. Despite all of our studies of the Egyptian tombs, pyramids and hieroglyphs, we still have no idea what the pyramids were actually used for. No body, corpse, or mummy has ever been found in a pyramid. They are always located elsewhere. We do know the pyramids were not built by slaves. Recent excavations have shown the pyramid workers were fed extremely well and enjoyed excellent living conditions, though their bodies held all the tell-tale signs of a short life of very physical labor. There are many theories for what the pyramids may have actually been used for. Were they centers of worship or healing? Are they a form of ancient power? Were they used to contact those in the afterlife; or perhaps aliens had a hand in their creation and uses.

Of Blood and Stone uses the tonality and scales found on the ancient instruments of Egypt as its core melodic and harmonic language. The piece opens up with life on the River Nile. After the intro, the percussion enters and jump starts us into the pulse of everyday life which eventually leads us spiritually to the Valley of the Dead explored with the help of wind wand bullroarers. After the Valley of the Dead we musically mourn a civilization lost, imagine the loves lived and lost. The piece ends with the actual building of the pyramids, not by slaves but by a people destined to create something the world had never known. The pyramids are not only still standing after thousands of years, but have never been recreated with any other civilization. The Egyptians, our ancestors, shaped the world with blood and stone.

- Program Note from publisher


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


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