Postcard

Score Cover

Frank Ticheli

General Info

Year: 1991
Duration: c. 5:25
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Manhattan Beach Music
Cost: Score and Parts - $200.00   |   Score Only - $42.00

Instrumentation

Full Score
Percussion Score
Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Bb Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
Bb Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone I-II
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Trumpet (in Bb) I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

• Bass Drum
• Crash Cymbals
• Slapstick
• Snare Drum
• Suspended Cymbal
• Temple Blocks
• Tom-Tom
• Triangle
• Vibraphone
• Vibraslap
• Xylophone

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Postcard was commissioned by my friend, colleague, and former mentor, H. Robert Reynolds, in memory of his mother, Ethel Virginia Curry. He requested that I compose not an elegy commemorating her death, but a short energetic piece celebrating her life. In response, I have composed this brief "postcard" as a musical reflection of her character -- vibrant, whimsical, succinct.

It is cast in an ABA' form. The primary theme, first heard in the flute and clarinet and used in the outer sections, is a palindrome -- that is, it sounds the same played forwards or backwards. This theme honors a long-standing tradition in the Reynolds family of giving palindromic names (such as Hannah and Anna) to their children. H. Robert Reynolds' first name is Harrah. The theme's symmetry is often broken, sometimes being elongated, other times being abruptly cut off by unexpected events.

The B section is based on a five-note series derived from the name Ethel: E (E natural) T (te in the solfeggio system, B flat) H (in the German system, B natural) E (E-flat this time) L (la in the solfeggio system, A natural). The development of this motive can be likened to a journey through a series of constantly changing landscapes.

The A' section is articulated by the return of the main melody. This section is not identical to the A section, but is close enough in spirit to it to give the effect of a large-scale palindrome surrounding the smaller ones.

Postcard was completed in the summer of 1991. Its first performance was on April 17, 1992, at Hill Auditorium in Ann Arbor, Michigan, by the University of Michigan Symphony Band conducted by H. Robert Reynolds.

- Program Note by Frank Ticheli

Awards

• Postcard has been recommended as interesting, serious and distinctive music by members of the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles (WASBE).

Commercial Discography

• Audio CD: Michigan State University Wind Symphony (John Whitwell, conductor).
• Audio CD: North Texas Wind Symphony (Eugene Corporon, conductor).
• Audio CD: Cincinnati Wind Symphony (Eugene Corporon, conductor).
• Audio CD: Dallas Wind Symphony (Jerry Junkin, conductor).

Audio Links

• MP3 file at Manhattan Beach Music

State Ratings

• Florida: VI
• Virginia: VI

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

• University of Miami (Fla.) Frost Wind Ensemble (Robert Carnochan, conductor) – 24 March 2019
• Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Symphonic Winds (Dennis Llinás, conductor) – 11 October 2018
• Central Washington University (Ellensburg) Wind Ensemble (Lewis Norfleet, conductor) – 22 March 2018 (CBDNA 2018 Western/Northwestern Conference, Rohnert Park, Calif.)
• Wylie (Tx.) High School Wind Symphony (Todd Dixon, conductor) - 22 December 2017 (2017 Midwest Clinic)
• Colorado Wind Ensemble (Littleton) (David Kish, conductor) – 1 December 2017
• Ohio State University (Columbus) Wind Symphony (Onsby Rose, conductor) – 2 November 2017
• Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisc.) Wind Ensemble (Andrew Mast, conductors) – 13 October 2017
• Yale University (New Haven, Conn.) Concert Band (Thomas Duffy, conductor) – 7 April 2017
• Eastman School of Music (Rochester, N.Y.) Wind Orchestra (Mark Davis Scatterday, conductor) – 3 March 2017
• San Luis Obispo (Calif.) Wind Orchestra (Jennifer Martin, conductor) – 26 February 2017 
• University of North Carolina, Greensboro, Symphonic Band (Kevin Geraldi, conductor) – 17 February 2017
• University of Cincinnati (Ohio) Conservatory of Music Wind Orchestra (Glenn Price, conductor) – 14 October 2016
• University of Michigan Concert Band (Courtney Snyder, conductor) - 13 April 2015
• Texas Tech University Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Dr. Sarah McKoin, conductor) - 7 February 2014
  
• California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Wind Ensemble (Jennifer Martin, conductor) - 18 June 2010
• New World School of the Arts Wind Ensemble (Rodester Brandon, conductor) - 1 March 2001

Works for Winds by this Composer

• Abracadabra (2005)
• Acadiana (2016)
• Amazing Grace (1994)
• Amen! (2009)
• An American Elegy (2000)
• Angels in the Architecture (2009)
• Blue Shades (1996)
• Boundless River (2020)
• Cajun Folk Songs, Part One (1990)
• Cajun Folk Songs, Part Two (1997)
• Concertino for Trombone (1987/2007)
• Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Wind Ensemble (Ticheli) (2014)
• Concerto for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble (2010)
• Dancing on Water (2015)
• December Snow (2015)
• Earth Song for Band (2012)
• First Light (2013)
• Fortress (1988)
• Gaian Visions (1990)
• Ghost Tale (2020)
• Joy (2005)
• Joy Revisited (2005)
• Korean Folksongs from Jeju Island (2013)
• Loch Lomond
• Midnight (2019)
• Midnight in Nairobi (2019)
• Music for Winds and Percussion (withdrawn)
• Nitro (2006)
• Pacific Fanfare
• Portrait of a Clown
• Postcard (1991)
• Rest (2011)
• San Antonio Dances (2010)
• Sanctuary (2006)
• Serenade for Kristin (2018)
• Shaker Gift Song, A (2004)
• Shenandoah (1999)
• Silver Lining (2017)
• Simple Gifts: Four Shaker Songs (2002)
• Songs of Love and Life (2012)
• Sun Dance (1997)
• Symphony No. 1 (tr. Green)
• Symphony No. 2 (2004)
• The Tyger (2008)
• Under the Big Top (2019)
• Vesuvius (1997)
• Wild Nights!

Resources

• Blocker, L., Cramer, R., Corporon, E. ,Lautzenheiser, T., Lisk, E., & Miles, R. (1996). Teaching music through performance in band (Volume One). Chicago, IL: Gia Publications.
• Frank Ticheli - Official Website.
• Darling, John A. (2005) A Study of the Wind Band Music of Frank Ticheli with an Analysis of Fortress, Postcard and Vesuvius. Ohio State University, Doctoral Dissertation.
• Miles, Richard B., and Larry Blocher. (2010). Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 1. Chicago: GIA Publications. pp. 908-914.
• Ticheli, F. (1993). Postcard: For Concert Band [score]. Manhattan Beach Music: Brooklyn, N.Y.