Shell Game

From Wind Repertory Project
Bruce Broughton

Bruce Broughton


Subtitle: For Flexible Wind Band with Adaptable Parts


General Info

Year: 2020
Duration: c. 3:30
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Alan Publications
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $70.00   |   Score Only (print) - $15.00


Instrumentation (Flexible)

Full Score
Part 1

  • Piccolo (optional)
  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet

Part 2

  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone

Part 3

  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone
  • B-flat Trumpet
  • Horn in F

Part 4

  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone
  • B-flat Trumpet
  • Horn in F

Part 5

  • Bassoon
  • B-flat Tenor Saxophone
  • Horn in F
  • Trombone
  • Euphonium

Part 6

  • Bassoon
  • B-flat Bass Clarinet
  • E-flat Baritone Saxophone
  • Trombone
  • Euphonium
  • Tuba
  • String Bass (optional)

Timpani (optional)
Percussion I-II-III (optional), including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Field Drum
  • Glockenspiel
  • Guiro
  • Marimba
  • Piccolo Snare Drum
  • Ratchet
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tambourine
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

A shell game is a very old sleight-of-hand magic trick in which a pea or some other small object is moved between three cups or “shells.” The shells get moved around quickly by the operator, and the trick is to figure out which shell the pea is under. However, when gambling is involved, it’s often a confidence game and illegal in most countries.

Shell Game begins as a light-hearted magic game and quickly turns into something more frenzied. A short burst of notes, stated by many different instruments at the very start, represent the pea appearing under different shells. But the game soon quickens until it’s almost impossible to tell where the pea is until the very end. The burst of notes from the beginning declares the final appearance of the pea.

- Program Note from publisher


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • Modesto (Calif.) Junior College Symphonic Band (Erik Maki, conductor) - 29 November 2021
  • University of Oklahoma (Norman) Symphony Band (Michael Hancock, conductor) - 3 May 2021
  • McClellan College (Waco, Tx.) Wind Ensemble (Jon Conrad, conductor) - 4 March 2021
  • Truman State University (Kirksville, Mo.) Wind Symphony I (Curran Prendergast, conductor) - 25 February 2021
  • Kennesaw (Ga.) State University Wind Symphony (Debora Traficante, conductor) - 24 February 2021


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources