Rust Belt
Subtitle: An Overture for Wind Ensemble
General Info
Year: 2017
Duration: c. 9:30
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Unpublished
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $100.00 | Score Only (print) - Free
Instrumentation
Full Score
Solo C Trumpet I-II
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III-IV
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass 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
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:
- Anvil
- Bass Drum, Pedal
- Crash Cymbals
- Glockenspiel
- Hi-Hat
- Marimba
- Siren
- Snare Drum
- Steel Drums
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tam-Tam
- Tom-Tom
- Triangle
- Vibraphone
- Wind Chimes
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
'The Rust Belt’ is a term for the region straddling the upper North-Eastern United States, the Great Lakes, and the Midwest States, referring to economic decline, population loss, and urban decay due to the shrinking of its once-powerful industrial sector.
Rust Belt was inspired by a photo essay featuring images from this region, such as abandoned factories and derelict neighborhoods. The music suggests the vibrancy, the blue-collar energy and optimism that used to permeate those sites. It evokes the nostalgia of the inhabitants for the good years and their yearning for a return to relevance and dignity.
The musical material is generated from a 12-note ‘row’ that is used consistently throughout, either in melody or bass, though always in the context of a triadic tonal harmonic language. In reflection of the industrial theme, much use is made of metallic percussion, including anvil and steel drums. And the siren is also prominently featured.
Rust Belt was commissioned in 2017 by the United States Air Force Academy Band to celebrate the Air Force's 70th anniversary and premiered under the baton of Shanti Simon, with Tim Allums and Adrian Holton solo trumpets.
- Program Note by composer
Media
(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)
State Ratings
None discovered thus far.
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- Carthage College (Kenosha, Wisc.) Wind Orchestra (James Ripley, conductor; Kevin Natoli & Jacinda Ripley, trumpet) – 17 May 2019
- Air Force Academy Band (Colorado Springs, Colo.) (Shanti Simon, conductor; Tim Allums & Adrian Holton, trumpet) – 23 March 2017
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Alafaya (2019)
- Transcending (2019)
- The Audacity of Hope (2008)
- Aue! (2001)
- An Emily Dickinson Suite (2009)
- For What Is Lost. See: Renascence
- L'homme armé (2003)
- Light (2010)
- The Lost (2022)
- Méndez (2015)
- Okaoka (2005)
- Pulse (2020)
- Renascence (2007/2016)
- For What Is Lost (2016)
- Resonance (2006)
- Rondorlando (2007)
- Rust Belt (2017)
- Song of Hope (2020)
- Thenody (2021)
- U Trau (2004)
Resources
- Christopher Marshall, personal correspondence, May 2019
- Christopher Marshall website Accessed 16 May 2019
- " Wind Orchestra and Concert Band explore balance of industry and environment in tomorrow’s concert." News (Carthage College). 14 May 2019. Web. Accessed 16 May 2019