Shine (Giroux)

From Wind Repertory Project
Julie Giroux

Julie Giroux


This work was originally entitled Moonshine.


General Info

Year: 2017
Duration: c. 8:25
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Musica Propria
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $130.00   |   Score Only (print) - $30.00


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Contra Alto 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-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Piano
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Cabasa
  • Chimes
  • Crotales
  • Marimba
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tenor Drum
  • Vibra-slap
  • Washboard
  • Wood Log
  • Xylophones


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Shine (2017) is a programmatic work that centers around the Prohibition era. Backwood stills and liquor-running jalopies are a part of our American heritage. Many a legitimate distillery has a history in bootlegging, and NASCAR of course was born out of moonshine running souped-up cars. America is a country of immigrants, and every immigrant who comes here brings their music and instruments with them. What we call bluegrass music today represents that Irish and Scottish folk music “sound.” The folk music of the American hill people, the Appalachians, Smoky Mountains stretching from the south to the north, gave birth to not only our bluegrass but to several instruments as well. Banjos, fiddles, dulcimers, autoharps, jaw or jews harp, the jug, mandolins, guitars, and several other instruments became our folk instruments; some instruments that existed before, some we invented. There is only one problem ... none of those instruments are normal instrumentation for symphonic bands.

I wanted to capture the imagination of an audience with as much bluegrass flavor as I could without having to score for the actual instruments. Double reeds, muted brass, combinations of low winds with other instruments all captured a lot of that visceral essence. Using washboards and special mallets in the percussion helped too. The sixteenth notes followed by dotted-eighth rhythms and vice versa so prevalent in Scottish and Irish music is also the backbone of bluegrass music.

Moonshine is a big part of our country’s past and many today still earn a living making and selling legal and illegal white lightning. I will admit I sampled many different types and flavors of moonshine while I was composing this work. Some I bought in a store, some, well, not exactly. My opinion of moonshine has not changed. I still don’t care for it. When I close my eyes and listen to Shine I can see those stills far back in the woods, hear those tires spinning out in gravel as they tear down country roads, and I can feel the burn of moonshine not just down my throat but in my soul. I hope as you listen to this back road American heartbeat, you can see it, live it too.

- Program Note by composer


This composition was made possible through the generous grant of the Savannah Orchestral Music Fund, Savannah, Georgia, USA.

- Program Note from score


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

  • University of British Columbia (Vancouver) Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Jaelem Bhate, conductor) - 1 April 2023
  • Cuyahoga Falls (Ohio) High School Symphonic Band (Dustin Harris, conductor) – 14 February 2022
  • Syracuse (N.Y.) University Wind Ensemble (Timothy Diem, conductor) - 16 November 2021
  • James Madison University (Harrisonburg, Va.) Concert Band (Amy Birdsong, conductor) - 26 October 2021
  • Lamar University (Beaumont, Tx.) Wind Ensemble (Andrew McMahan, conductor) - 26 April 2021
  • University of Iowa (Iowa City) Concert Band (Eric W. Bush, conductor) – 29 February 2020
  • Hilliard (Ohio) Davidson Wind Symphony (Shawn Malone, conductor) - 13 February 2020
  • University of Idaho (Moscow) Wind Ensemble (Mark Thiele, conductor) – 21 November 2019
  • Cathedral City High School Symphony Band (Matthew K. Howe, conductor) - 29 October 2019
  • Sharon (Mass.) Concert Band (Stephen Bell, conductor)– 8 June 2019
  • Castleton (Vt.) University Wind Ensemble (Joshua Thompson, conductor) – 7 May 2019
  • Arkansas Tech University (Russellville) Symphonic Band (Jim Daughters, conductor) – 25 April 2019
  • West Virginia University (Morgantown) Symphonic Band (Stephen Lytle, conductor) – 24 April 2019
  • College of Lake County (Grayslake, Ill.) Wind Ensemble (Michael Flack, conductor) - 10 March 2019
  • Miamisburg (Ohio) High School Wind Symphony (Steve Aylward, conductor) - 5 March 2019
  • University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) Symphonic Band (Randall O. Coleman, conductor) – 26 February 2019
  • Arlington High School (N.Y.) Wind Ensemble (Rich Guillen, conductor)- Dec. 20, 2018
  • University of Nebraska (Lincoln) Symphonic Band (Christopher Brandt, conductor) – 6 December 2018
  • Brigham Young University (Provo, Utah) Symphonic Band (Kirk Saville, conductor) – 7 November 2018
  • Sacramento (Calif.) State University Symphonic Wind Ensemble (Matthew Morse, conductor) – 10 October 2018
  • Savannah (Ga.) Winds (Mark B. Johnson, conductor) – 9 March 2017 *Premiere Performance*

Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


All Wind Works


Resources