Shell Game

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

Audio: Reference recording. MIDI realization

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

Little Acorns (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
The Mouse King (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Pursuit (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Shell Game (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Takin' It Easy (Flex instrumentation) (2020)

All Wind Works

Alone Yet Not Alone (arr. Graham) (2013)
American Hero (2001)
A Celebration Overture (2014)
Concerto for Tuba and Winds (1987)
Concerto for Piccolo and Wind Ensemble (orch. Bass) (1992/2005)
Concerto for Trumpet, Euphonium, and Band
Dinosaurs (Broughton) (1992)
Excursions for Trumpet and Band (1995)
Fanfare for 16 Horns (2015)
Fanfares, Marches, Hymns & Finale (2003)
Flourishes (2022)
From Sea to Shining Sea
Frontier Overture, A (1982)
Harlequin (1984)
Heliotrope Bouquet
Hornworks
In the World of Spirits (2012)
Jag: Theme (2002)
Little Acorns (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Masters of Space and Time
The Mouse King (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
New Era (2010)
Oliver's Birthday (1998/2008)
Open the Door! (2018)
Overture to "Miracle on 34th Street" (arr. Vinson) (2007)
Pursuit (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Quaternity (2019)
Shell Game (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Silverado (1985)
A Southern Jubilee (2019)
Spacious Skies (2017)
Takin' It Easy (Flex instrumentation) (2020)
Tent Meeting Revival (2014)
Terry Takes a Walk (2022)
Themes from "Silverado" (arr. Morsch) (1985)
Turbulence (2013/2016)

Resources

Bruce Broughton Website Accessed 16 September 2020
Creative Repertoire Initiative
Perusal score