Oracle

Eric Rath

General Info

Year: 2010
Duration: c. 4:30
Difficulty: IV (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: TRN Music Publisher
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $75.00 | Score Only (print) - $10.00

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
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-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-VII, including:

Bass Drum
China Cymbals
Concert Tom
Crotales
Djembe
Doumbek
Glockenspiel
Marimba
Splash Cymbal
Suspended Cymbal
Tambourine
Tam-tam
Triangle
Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

In looking for a compositional direction for Oracle, I looked for musical influences that I had not heard frequently utilized in band music. After researching various cultures and experimenting with their musical elements, I settled on a Greek influence. Quickly, the palette of octatonic scales and mixed meter (7/8 throughout, always subdivided 2-2-3) emerged.

While the percussion instruments are not necessarily Greek per se, the idea was to bring some less common colors into the wind ensemble. Doumbek, djembe and four-mallet marimba are prominently used along with a variety of other standard percussion instruments to create an ethnic feel.

Oracle covers a number of moods, from playful and conversational to bombastic and aggressive, all while conjuring up Grecian imagery.

Oracle was commissioned by the Hebron High School Wind Symphony, under the direction of Andy Sealy, on the occasion of their invitation to perform at the 2010 Midwest Clinic and their selection as the 5A Honor Band (with performance at the 2011 Texas Music Educators' Association Convention).

- Program Note adapted from composer

Dedicated to my friend and mentor, Andy Sealy.

- Program Note from score

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Hebron High School Wind Symphony (Andy Sealy, conductor)
Audio CD: Hebron High School Wind Symphony (Andy Sealy, conductor)

State Ratings

Louisiana: IV
Texas: IV. Complete

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

Hebron High School (Carrollton, Tx.) Wind Symphony (Tom Bennett, conductor) – 17 December 2010 (2010 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Escape Artist (2015)
Hill Country Mosaic (2014)
Oracle (2010)
Paramount Park (2010)
Rising Sun
Shadow of the Longship (2015)
Soothsayer (2022)
The Spirit of Flight (2016)
Where Morning Dawns, Where Evening Fades (2015)

Resources

Perusal score