Rhythm Stand

From Wind Repertory Project
Jennifer Higdon

Jennifer Higdon


General Info

Year: 2004
Duration: c. 2:25
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: BandQuest, through Hal Leonard
Cost: Score and Parts - $60.00   |   Score - $5.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet
Horn in F
Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
String Bass
Piano (optional)
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bongos
  • Claves
  • Cowbell
  • Glockenspiel
  • Maracas
  • Slapstick (whip)
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Triangle
  • Xylophone

Ad hoc rhythm devices: tapping music stands with pencils, snapping fingers, etc.


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Rhythm Stand pays tribute to the constant presence of rhythm in our lives, from the pulse of a heart beating to the rhythmic sounds of the world around us. Celebrating the "regular order" we all experience, Jennifer Higdon incorporates traditional and non-traditional sound within a 4/4 meter American style swing to heighten student awareness and enhance their creativity. Organized in unique compositional and rhythmic patterns, this work invites students to explore multiple ways of organizing sounds and making music.

In the composer's own words:

"Since rhythm is everywhere, not just in music (ever listened to the tires of a car running across pavement, or a train on railroad tracks?), I've incorporated sounds that come not from the instruments that you might find in a band, but from 'objects' that sit nearby ... music stands and pencils! Music stands are played with pencils, which are both 'objects' at hand. Not only that, but some of the performers in this piece get even more basic ... they snap their fingers. Because music can be any kind of sound arranged into an interesting pattern, I decided to add sounds that you wouldn't normally hear coming from band instruments, sounds which are created out of ordinary things that might be sitting nearby. Composing is merely the job of combining interesting sounds into interesting patterns. And interesting patterns create cool rhythms. So ... I'm making a STAND FOR RHYTHM!"

Program Note from score


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Cleveland (Ohio) Youth Wind Symphony Group II (Michael Komperda, conductor) - 10 December 2023 (Severance Music Center)
  • Autumn Winds (Tampa Fla.) (Brian Panetta, conductor) - 4 November 2023
  • University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) Maroon Campus Band (Madeline Swenson, conductor) - 5 December 2022
  • Catskill Valley (Oneonta, N.Y.) Wind Ensemble (Deanna Perkosky, conductor) - 1 May 2022
  • University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Wind Ensemble (Michael Griffith, conductor) – 25 February 2020
  • Grisham Middle School (Austin, Tx.) Honors Band (Liz Love, conductor) - 20 December 2019 (2019 Midwest Clinic)
  • Hartwick College (Oneonta, N.Y.) Wind Ensemble (Russell Elster, conductor) – 30 April 2019
  • University of Louisville Concert Band, (Jason Cumberledge, conductor) - 20 February 2019
  • Yale University (New Haven, Conn.) Concert Band (Christian Fernandez, conductor) – 15 February 2019
  • University of Oregon (Eugene) Campus Band (Eric Wiltshire, conductor) – 14 November 2018
  • Stephen F. Austin State University (Nacogdoches, Tx.) Symphonic Band (Chris Kaatz, conductor) - 16 October 2018
  • Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minn.) Wind Symphony (Heidi Johanna Miller, conductor)- 19 May 2018
  • Cottey College (Nevada, Mo.) Wind Ensemble (Jackie Lordo, conductor) - 29 April 2018
  • Duke (Durham, N.C.) Wind Symphony (Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant, conductor) – 24 February 2018
  • John Hersey High School (Arlington Heights, Ill.) Symphonic Band (Scott Casagrande, conductor) – 23 February 2018 (CBDNA 2018 North Central Conference, Kalamazoo, Mich.)
  • California All-State Junior High School Concert Band (John Burn, conductor) - 18 February 2018 (2018 CASMEC Conference, San Jose)
  • Prairie Star Middle School Band – 6 December 2017
  • Northshore Concert Band (Elgin, Ill.) (Mallory Thompson, conductor) - 8 February 2015
  • Atlanta (Ga.) Youth Wind Symphony (Stephen W. Pratt, conductor) – 15 December 2005 (2005 Midwest Clinic)


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources