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Postcard

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Score Cover

Frank Ticheli


General Info

Year: 1991 / 1993
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
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
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-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


Media


State Ratings

  • Florida: VI
  • Virginia: VI


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Texas Tech University (Lubbock) Symphonic Band (Eric Allen, conductor) - 7 May 2021
  • Grand Symphonic Winds (St. Paul, Minn.) (Matthew George, conductor) - 12 February 2021
  • University of Kentucky (Lexington) Wind Ensemble (Cody Birdwell, conductor) - 25 September 2020
  • Texas A&M University (Lubbock) Wind Symphony (Travis Almany, conductor) – 28 February 2020
  • James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Wind Symphony (Stephen Bolstad, conductor) – 22 February 2020
  • Appalachian State University (Boone, N.C.) Wind Ensemble (Joseph D. Conti, conductor) – 19 November 2019
  • 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


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources

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