Sound and Smoke

From Wind Repertory Project
Viet Cuong

Viet Cuong


General Info

Year: 2011
Duration: c. 13:50
Difficulty: (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Viet Cuong
Cost: Score and Parts - Rental ($400.00)   |   Score Only - $50.00 purchase


Movements

1. (feudal castle lights) - 6:15
2. (avalanche of eyes) - 6:50


Instrumentation

Full Score
Flute I-II-III
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
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-III-IV
Trombone I-II
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV-V, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bell Tree
  • Chimes
  • China Cymbals
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Crotales
  • Glockenspiel
  • Hi-Hat
  • Marimba
  • Sizzle Cymbal
  • Slapstick
  • Sleigh Bells
  • Snare Drum
  • Splash Cymbal
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Taiko Drum, large
  • Tam-Tam
  • Tom-Tom, large
  • Triangle
  • Vibraphone
  • Wind Chimes
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

Both the title and concept of Sound and Smoke were derived from a line from Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s play Faust, when Faust equates words to “mere sound and smoke” and declares that “feeling is everything.” Each of the two movements has been given an abstract, parenthetical title to further incorporate Goethe’s conjecture that words will never be able to fully express what feelings and, in this case, music can. Therefore, these titles serve merely as starting points for personal interpretation and should not interfere with the music itself.

The first movement, (feudal castle lights), blurs the many different timbres of the ensemble to create a resonant and slowly “smoldering” effect. Because reverb is essentially built into the orchestration, harmonies must shift using common tones and are always built upon the notes preceding them. The second and final movement, (avalanche of eyes), opens with an alternating unison-note brass fanfare that is then spun out into a fast-paced toccata. Suspense and excitement are created as the spotlight moves quickly between the various colors of the ensemble and the fanfare is transformed.

The original concept of “sound and smoke” unifies these two otherwise dissimilar movements; oftentimes ideas are presented and then promptly left behind or transformed. Musical events therefore appear and dissipate as quickly as sound and smoke.

- Program Note by composer


Awards

  • Walter Beeler Memorial Prize from Ithaca College, winner, 2012


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music

  • Syzygy (Flex instrumentation) (2019/2020)


All Wind Works


Resources

  • Trachsel, Andrew. "Sound and Smoke." In Teaching Music through Performance in Band. Volume 11, Compiled and edited by Richard Miles, 802-817. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2018.