Rocketship!
General Info
Year: 2017
Duration: c. 4:20
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Murphy Music Press
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $100.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
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
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Chimes
- Glockenspiel
- Ride Cymbal
- Snare Drum (Marching)
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tambourine
- Wood Block
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Rocketship! is an energetic concert piece formed by two sections which express energy in different ways. The first is composed of short rhythmic patterns that start quietly before building to the end of each phrase. The second section introduces a marching snare drum solo accompanied by open fifths, known as power chords, in the winds. Brief motives accompany the sustained power chords, but quickly dissipate as a new motive begins. The different sections shrink as the composition develops until they are played one after the other at the very end.
- Program Note by Cole Hairston for the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, University Band concert program, 18 November 2021
Rocketship! is an intense and vibrant concert opener which features a rhythmic energy highlighted by a marching snare drum. It’s quick tempo and frequent dynamic shifts provide the perfect back drop for the “liftoff” of a wind ensemble’s performance.
- Program Note from Wayne State College Symphonic Band concert program 20 April 2021
Commissioned by and dedicated to Paul Rosales, Director of Bands at William James Middle School, and the students of the William James Middle School Band Program, Fort Worth ISD.
- Program Note from score
Media
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Kentucky (Lexington) Concert Band (Adam P. Miller, conductor) - 20 November 2023
- State University of New York Fredonia Concert Band (Carrie Pawleski, conductor) - 28 September 2023
- Camp Encore/Coda (Sweden, Me.) Wind Ensemble (Trevor Frost, conductor) - 21 July 2023
- University of Georgia (Athens) Roth Band (David Roth, conductor) - 22 January 2023
- Noma Winds (Rohnert Park, Calif.) (Kim Meider, conductor) - 12 December 2022
- Washtenaw International High School (Ypsilanti, Mich.) Wind Ensemble (Brooke Pierson, conductor) - 8 November 2022
- Pacific Lutheran University (Parkland, Wash.) Wind Ensemble (Edwin Powell, conductor) - 9 October 2022
- Reyburn Intermediate (Clovis, Calif.) Symphonic Band (Scott Downs, conductor) – 22 April 2022 (2022 San Joaquin Valley (Calif.) Concert Band Invitational)
- University of British Columbia (Vancouver) Concert Winds (Imran Amarshi, conductor) - 1 April 2022
- University of North Carolina, Greensboro, University Band (Cole Hairston) - 18 November 2021
- University of Portland (Ore.) Wind Symphony (Patrick Murphy, conductor) - 2 October 2021
- University of Louisville (Ky.) Concert Band (Jason Cumberledge, conductor) - 17 February 2020
- Kings County Concert Band (Brooklyn, N.Y.) (Jasmine Britt, conductor) – 14 December 2019
- Bowling Green (Ohio) State University University Band (Bruce Moss, conductor) – 25 November 2019
- Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Symphonic Band (Cliff Croomes, conductor) – 19 November 2019
- University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire High School 11-12 Gold Honor Band (John R. Stewart, conductor) - 2 November 2019
- Hartwick College (Oneonta, N.Y.) Honor Band (Jasmine Britt, conductor) – 26 October 2019
- State University of New York Geneseo Wind Ensemble (Leah McGray, conductor) – 20 October 2019
- Alamosa (Colo.) State University Wind Ensemble (Angela Winter, conductor) – 18 October 2018
- Alabama All-State Band (Julie Giroux, conductor) – 2017
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Dancing Fire (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Trentadue) (2016/2020)
- Ember Skies (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Trentadue) (2020/2022)
- Havana (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Trentadue) (2018/2020)
- A Hymn for Peace (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
- Lightning Round (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Trentadue) (2022)
- Rocketship! (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
All Wind Works
- All the Day Long (2017)
- Aurora (arr. Trentadue) (2021/2023)
- Christmas in Spain (2016)
- Concerto for Euphonium and Wind Ensemble (2018)
- Concerto for Wind Ensemble (2021)
- Dancing Fire (2016)
- Dancing Fire (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Trentadue) (2016/2020)
- Deep Blue (2022)
- Dual Strides (2022)
- Ecstatic Samba (arr. Trentadue) (2017/2022)
- Ember Skies (2021)
- Ember Skies (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Trentadue) (2020/2022)
- enter data sequence (arr. Trentadue) (2022)
- The Essence of Being (arr. Trentadue) (2021/2022)
- Fantasia for Alto Sax and Marimba (2016)
- Fireworks (2015)
- Flash Fury (2023)
- Galactic Voyage (2018)
- Ignition (2018/2020)
- Havana (2018)
- Havana (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Trentadue) (2018/2020)
- A Hymn for Peace (2017)
- A Hymn for Peace (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
- J.R. (2017)
- Lightning Round (2022)
- Lightning Round (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Trentadue) (2022)
- Metallic Figures
- More than Words... (2020)
- MOTO. See: Symphony Basquiat
- Night Sketches I (2016)
- Nitrous (2020)
- On Shores of Endless Sea (2022)
- Pyrotechnics (2019)
- Requiem for the Unarmed (2020/2022)
- River Memoria (2022)
- Rocketship! (2017)
- Rocketship! (Flex instrumentation) (2017/2020)
- Sangre Royal (2023)
- Shimmering Sunshine (2019). See also: Of Day and Night
- Solace in the Wind (arr. Trentadue) (2020/2023)
- A Song for Tomorrow (2019)
- Summit (2020)
- Symphony Basquiat (2023)
- Tango Oscuro (arr. Trentadue) (2020/2022)
- Unquiet Waters (2020/2023)
- Variation V (arr. Collins) (2020/2022)
- Windborne (2022)
Resources
- Kevin Day website Accessed 18 October 2018
- Pease, Andy. "Rocketship! by Kevin Day." Wind Band Literature, 15 October 2018. Web. Accessed 15 October 2019
- Perusal score