Opa!

Julie Giroux

General Info

Year: 2018
Duration: c. 5:55
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Musica Propria
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $130.00 | Score Only (print) - $25.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
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
Timpani
Percussion I-VI, including:

Agogo Bells
Anvil
Bass Drum
Bongos
Cymbals, stacked
Marimba
Orchestra Bells
Sleigh Bells (2, 1 small)
Snare Drum
Tambourine, metal
Timbales
Triangle
Vibraphone
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

This work opens with an original Greek prayer setting and ends with a lively dance based on the Greek song Karaguna. It starts out somber and dissonant with musical counterpoint full of many tension-and-release moments. The listener is then transported to a dance setting which start outs slowly featuring a lengthy alto saxophone solo. The music gradually increases in excitement and tempo, ending in a frenetic explosion best described as a love of life the people of Greece continuously display in their food, reveling and music.

- Program Note by composer

Commissioned by the North Hills High School Bands, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Len Lavelle, director, in memory of Areta Kalogeras who was the North Hills Band Director from 1975 through 2008.

- Program Note from score

"Opa!" (Greek: Ώπα) is a common Greek emotional expression. It is frequently used during celebrations such as weddings or traditional dancing. In Greek culture, the expression sometimes accompanies purposeful or accidental plate smashing. It can also be used to express shock or surprise, especially when having just made a mistake.

- Program Note from Wikipedia

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: University of North Texas Symphonic Band (Dennis Fisher, conductor)

State Ratings

None discovered thus far.

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

South Florida (Fort Lauderdale) Pride Wind Ensemble (Daniel Bassett, conductor) – 19 May 2023 (ACB 2023 Annual Convention (Orlando, Fla.))
University of Georgia (Athens) Honor Concert Winds (LaToya Webb, conductor) - 22 January 2023
University of Wisconsin-Parkside Wind Ensemble (Laura Rexroth, conductor) - 5 May 2022
University of Southern Maine (Gorham) Concert Band (Jackie Townsend, conductor) – 5 October 2019
Santa Cruz (Calif.) High School Symphonic Band (Christina Latham, conductor) – 12 April 2019 (2019 San Joaquin Valley (Calif.) Concert Band Invitational)
University of North Texas (Denton) Concert Band (Jacqueline Townsend, conductor) – 26 February 2018

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

The Bonsai Tree (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
Opa! (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
A Time to Dance (2006) (Flex instrumentation) (2006/2020)

All Wind Works

Across the Isle of Skye
Af-free-kah! (2013)
All Good Things (2003)
All Through the Night (as arranger) (2011)
Always (2019)
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Arcus IX
The Ash Grove (2019)
Autumn Rose (2017)
Away in a Manger (as arranger) (2011)
Before the Sun (2013)
Beyond Measure (2023)
Beyond the Gates (2022)
The Bench by the Sea (2017)
The Blue Marble (2022)
The Bonsai Tree (2010)
Bookmarks from Japan (2013)
Boston Liberties (2003)
Burning the Wickerman (2020)
Carnaval! (2013)
Celestial Seas (2014)
Chanukkah, Oh Chanukkah (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Chorale for Wind Band and Melodic Percussion (as arranger) (2015)
Christmas and Sousa Forever (as arranger) (2010)
Christmas Toons (2012)
Christmas with Mozart (2007)
Circus Franticus (2001)
Córdoba (2013)
Crown of Thorns (1998)
Culloden (2000)
- Culloden I and II
- Culloden III
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Dream Dancer (2005)
The Elements. See: Symphony No. 5
Empire (2006)
An Epic Fanfare. See: Three Fanfares
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Fields of Gold (2019)
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Freedom Rising (2017)
Glenbury Grove (2009)
Glorious Light (2019)
Godspeed (2023)
The Grace in Being (2013)
The Greatest Generation (2002)
Hands of Mercy (2001)
HardDrive (2010)
Hark the Herald Angels Sing (Flex instrumentation) (as arranger) (1739/2020)
Hark! Those Bells Are Smokin’ (2011)
The Hearthstone (2016)
Husaria Cavalry Overture (2006)
Hymn for the Innocent (2016)
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Il Burlone (2000)
I'll Be Home A'fore Ye (2006)
I'll Be Home A-fore Ye (Flex instrumentation) (2003/2020)
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Jingle Them Bells (as arranger) (1857/2011)
Journey Through Orion (2006)
Just Flyin'! (2015)
K2 (2012)
Kalanu (2002)
Khan (2008)
La Mezquita de Córdoba (2005)
Legacy (2011)
Let Your Spirit Sing (2003)
The Little Drummer Boy's Bolero
Louisiana Parish Sketches (2001)
Mambo Perro Loco (2008)
March of the Sun Dried Tomatoes (2000)
Market Bridge (Flex instrumentation) (2013/2020)
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Mile High (2023)
Moonshine. See: Shine
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Mystery on Mena Mountain (1985)
Mythic (2021)
The Nature of the Beast (2001)
Nearer, My God, To Thee (as arranger) (2010)
Nihonbashi. See: Market Bridge
No Finer Calling (2006)
No Man's Land (2017)
Nothing That Is (2000)
Nutcracker Fantasia (as arranger) (1891/2012)
O Holy Night (arr. Giroux) (1847/2011)
Of Blood and Stone (2015)
Of Silence and Sparrows (2022)
One Life Beautiful (2010)
One Life Beautiful (Flex instrumentation) (2010/2020)
One Torch, Two Women, Three Ships and Men Rejoicing (2011)
Opa! (2018)
Ouachita (1987)
Our Cast Aways (2018)
Our Cast Aways (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
Outlander (2010)
Overture in Five Flat (2010)
Paprikash (2014)
Peter Patapan (2011)
Poseidon (2010)
Primality 2006)
Prisoner of the Ring (1986)
Radiant Shadows (2016)
Rain Softly on Me (2022)
The Red Baron Drummer
Riften Wed (2013)
River Shannon (2020)
Shadow Falls (2013)
Shine (2017)
Silent Night in Gotham (as arranger) (1818/2009)
Space Symphony (1986/1991)
The Speed of Heat (2010)
Stealing Home (2016)
A Stocking Full of Composers (2009)
Strathcona Suite (2012)
Sun Catcher (2022)
Swashbuckler (2010)
Symphony No. 1. See: Culloden
Symphony No. 2. See: A Symphony of Fables
Symphony No. 3. See: No Finer Calling
Symphony No. 4. See: Bookmarks from Japan
Symphony No. 5 (2017)
Symphony No. 6. see: The Blue Marble
A Symphony of Fables (2006)
Taboo for Trumpet and Wind Ensemble
Three Fanfares (2003)
Three Wise Guys (2011)
Tiger Tail March (2000)
A Time to Dance (2006)
To Walk with Wings (2000)
Trillium
The Twelve Days of Christmas (2012)
The Twelve Gallon Hat (2013)
Under the Influence (2022)
Under the Willow (2015)
A Very Merry Heart and Soul
Vigils Keep (2005)
Vortex (2015)
Wagon Trail (2003)
West Wind Overture (2012)
What Child Is That Playing Carol of the Bells? (as arranger) (2011)
What Goes in the Night (2000)
When Country Comes to Town (2008)
Where the Red Fern Grows (2016)
Wild West Overture
Winter from "The Four Seasons" (as arranger) (1725/)
Without You
Wolves in Moonlight (2019)
Zephyr, Chorale and Dance (2012)

Resources

Julie Giroux website Accessed 10 July 2021
Opa! (Greek expression), Wikipedia Accessed 15 April2019
Perusal score