Ready to Fly
General Info
Year: 2021
Duration: c. 2:10
Difficulty: I (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Murphy Music Press
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $70.00 | Score Only (print) - $15.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Flute
Oboe
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet
Horn in F
Trombone/Euphonium/Bassoon
Tuba
Piano (optional)
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Glockenspiel
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Triangle
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Ready to Fly represents a parallel between young birds and young developing musicians. Just as fledglings learn to use their voices to make the beautiful bird sounds we all know and love, young musicians develop a familiarity with the language of music and learn to communicate and inspire through sound.
The melodies in this piece were inspired by real bird calls: the charming and easily-recognizable two-note call of the black-capped chickadee, and the musical fanfare-like three-note call of the red-winged blackbird. I was also inspired by songbirds in the construction of the piece, using layering and cal-and-response sections to imitate antiphonal bird calls.
In working on this project, I felt strongly about creating a piece that contributes to both the musical and social-emotional growth of students at this level. My hope is that this piece will empower students of all levels to feel “ready to fly” in their musical and personal pursuits.
This piece was commissioned by Tammy Wahlin for the Robbinsdale Area Schools, with support from the Seven Dreams Education Foundation. This project was made possible thanks to the generous support of Marlene Johnson, who has asked to dedicate this piece in memory of her brother, Arnold Johnson, who was a lover of birds. Marlene and Arnold are both graduates of Robbinsdale high schools.
One dollar from every purchase of this piece will be donated to Birds Canada.
- Program Note by composer
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Wisconsin Eau Claire Middle School Stewart Honor Band (John W. Stewart, conductor) - 27 January 2023
- Allen (Tx.) High School Wind Ensemble (Philip A. Obado, conductor) - 20 December 2022 (2022 Midwest Clinic)
- Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School (Peterborough, Ont., Can.) Grade 9/10 Class (Murray Lefebvre, conductor) - May 2022
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Alpine Meadow (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Bove) (2020/2021)
- Autumn (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2021)
- Beneath the Canopy (Flex instrumentation) (2021)
- Into the Blue (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
All Wind Works
- Alpine Meadow (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Bove) (2020/2021)
- Autumn (2018)
- Autumn (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2021)
- Awaken (2016)
- Beneath the Canopy (2021)
- Beneath the Canopy (Flex instrumentation) (2021)
- Bloom (2018)
- Boreal Pines (2021)
- Breath of the Mountains (2023)
- Chasing Sunlight (2016)
- Echoes of a Northern Lake (2022)
- In Dreams (2018)
- Into the Blue (2018)
- Into the Blue (Flex instrumentation) (2018/2020)
- Intrinsic Light (2019)
- The Journey Begins (2024)
- Lake Superior Suite (2017)
- The Nature of Trees (2022)
- Night Light (2011/2019)
- Origin (Brass Ensemble) (2022)
- Origin (Wind Ensemble) (2022)
- Ready to Fly (2021)
- Reflections (2019)
- Sunset Canvas (2008)
- The Sweet Sounds of Snowfall (2016)
- Wilderness (2021)
Resources
- Perusal score
- Cait Nishimura website Accessed 13 December 2022