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Symphony for Brass and Percussion (Reed)
This work is also known as the composer's Symphony No. 1.
General Info
Year: 1952 / 1967
Duration: c. 18:25
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Sam Fox through Alfred Music Publishing
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $90.00; (digital) - $90.00 | Score Only (print) - $10.00; (digital) - $10.00
Movements
1. Maestoso; Allegro ma non Troppo – 7:00
2. Largo – 7:00
3. Con Moto – 3:00
Instrumentation
Full Score
B-flat Cornet I-II
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Bass Trombone
Euphonium I-II
Tuba I-II
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bells
- Chimes
- Crash Cymbals
- Gong
- Snare Drum
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tom-Tom
- Vibraphone
- Wood Block
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
The Symphony for Brass and Percussion, originally completed in the summer 1952, received its first performance in December of that year at the College Band Directors National Association convention in Chicago, by member of the Oberlin Symphonic Band under the direction of Donald I. Moore, to whom the work is dedicated. It is the composer’s second major work for the Wind-Brass-Percussion ensemble, following the Russian Christmas Music, and represents an attempt at exploring the possibilities for utilizing on brass and percussion sonorities in an extended piece.
The music is in three movements. The first opens with a broad introduction in which most of the thematic material of the movement is exposed. The allegro section takes the form of an intensive hard-driven march, but it is in triple rather than the usual duple time. The basic theme, already presented in the introduction, is treated with alternate quartal and tertial harmonies, although it is built mainly in fourths throughout. A quiet, almost chorale-like middle section follows the dying away of this first part, after which the original march-like theme returns and brings the first movement to an ending of great sonority.
The second movement, by contrast, is in three-part song form, beginning with a long, lyrical line in baritone, horn and tuba colorings, which is later taken up by the trumpets and trombones. The second part begins as a six-part fugato developing over along pedal point in the timpani. This reaches a high climax which dies away in preparation for the return of the original theme. This is now heard in tuned percussion colors, finally to be taken up again by the original baritone, horn and tuba grouping, bringing the movement to a quiet close.
The third movement is a rondo built on Latin-American rhythms, with the percussion section augmented by three tom-toms, tuned to low, middle and high pitches. It begins with an undulating rhythmic background over which the tubas state a motive which rises higher and higher in register until it is caught up by full trumpets and trombones. This is developed with rhythmic alterations, then dies away, yielding to the second part, which consists of a long lyrical line in canon between the trumpets, set over an inner pedal point figure in the horns. A basso ostinato is sounded by baritone and tuba in octaves. The horns, first in two and then in four parts, take over this theme in turn, followed by trumpets and trombones returning to the first section and its hard-driving rhythms. A short, broadened version of the first theme forms the coda, bringing the movement, as well as the entire Symphony, to a powerful conclusion.
For Donald I. Moore.
- Program Note from score
Media
State Ratings
- Tennessee: VI
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of Kentucky (Lexington) Wind Symphony (John Cody Birdwell, conductor) - 21 November 2021
- Colorado Mesa University (Grand Junction) Wind Symphony (Calvin Hofer, conductor) - 27 April 2021
- University of North Texas (Denton) Wind Ensemble (Daniel Cook, conductor) – 15 April 2021
- Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Wind Ensemble (Damon Talley, conductor) - 15 December 2020
- University of Florida (Gainesville) Symphonic Band (Nieves Villaseñor, conductor) - 18 November 2020
- The Lonestar Brass Orchestra (Austin, Tex.) (Brandon Clinton, conductor) – 30 May 2017
- U.S. Marine Band (Washington, D.C.) (Michelle Rakers, conductor) – 15 December 2015
- Oberlin College (Oberlin, Ohio) Symphonic Band (Donald I. Moore, conductor) – December 1952 (CBDNA conference, Chicago, Illinois) *Premiere Performance*
Works for Winds by This Composer
Adaptable Music
- Come, Sweet Death (Flex instrumentation) (as transcriber; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
- A Festival Prelude (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Haga) (1962/2019)
- Two Bagatelles (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Clark) (1983/1997/2010)
All Wind Works
- Acclamation!
- Alleluia! Laudamus Te (1973)
- Arioso (as arranger) (1729/1998)
- Armenian Dances (1972-1978)
- Armenian Dances, Part One (1972/1974)
- Armenian Dances, Part Two (1978)
- Around the World in 80 Days: Selections (as arranger; ed. Rogers) (1957/2017)
- Autumn Leaves (as arranger; ed. Rogers) (1947/2017)
- Ballade (1956/1999)
- Bachianas Brasileiras No. 4 Suite (as arranger) (1965)
- Berceuse and Finale from "The Firebird" (as editor; arr. McAlister) (1910/2005)
- The Big East March (1997)
- Canto e Camdombe
- Carmen (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1875/2000)
- A Celebration Fanfare (1989)
- A Ceremonial Fanfare (1971)
- Ceremony of Flourishes (1964)
- Chanson Triste (as arranger) (1878/1989)
- Characteristic Dances from "The Nutcracker Suite" (as editor with McAlister; tr. Rogan) (1892/2001)
- Children's Suite (2000)
- A Christmas Suite (1974)
- Chorale Prelude in E minor (1953/1966)
- A Christmas Celebration (1987)
- A Christmas Intrada (1980)
- Clear Track Polka (as arranger) (1869/2000)
- Come, Sweet Death (as arranger) (1736/1976)
- Come, Sweet Death (as transcriber; arr. Benson) (1736/1976/2019)
- Concertino (as arranger; ed. McCathren) (1811/1962)
- Concertino for Marimba and Winds (1993)
- Concerto for Trumpet and Winds (1995/1997)
- Curtain Up! (1991)
- Dance of the Hours (as editor; tr. Kennedy) (1876/)
- Danza Caribe (1986)
- Deck Thyself, My Soul, With Gladness (as arranger) (1653/1724/1990)
- Divertimento for Flute and Band (1998)
- Double Wind Quintet (1975)
- East and West (2003)
- El Camino Real (1985)
- El Camino Real (arr. Longfield) (1985/2013)
- The Enchanted Island (1980)
- The Entertainer (as arranger) (1902/1974)
- Evolutions (1993)
- Exhortation and Praise (2003)
- Fanfare and Processional (2005)
- The Fantasticks (as arranger) (1966)
- Fantasy on "Black Is the Color of My True Love's Hair" (as arranger) (1973)
- A Festival Prelude (1962)
- A Festival Prelude (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Haga) (1962/2019)
- A Festive Overture (1963)
- Fifth Suite for Band (1995)
- Fifth Symphony (1995)
- Finlandia (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1900/2004)
- First Suite for Band (1975)
- Five Cameos (2002)
- Five Dances for Five Clarinets and Band
- Forget Me Not, O Dearest Lord (as arranger) (c. 1736/1985)
- Fourth Suite for Band (1994)
- Fourth Symphony (1992)
- French Suite
- Funiculi Funicula (as arranger) (1880/1994)
- The Garden of Proserpine
- Giligia (2000)
- Golden Eagle (1989/1995)
- Golden Jubilee (1987)
- The Golden Year (1997)
- Greensleeves (1993/2011)
- Gypsy Dance (as arranger) (1872/1997)
- Havana Moon
- Highlights from "Exodus" (as arranger) (1960/1962)
- Highlights from Walt Disney's "Mary Poppins" (as arranger) (1963/1965)
- The Hounds of Spring (1981)
- Huldigungsmarsch (as editor) (1864/2002)
- Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2 (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1853/2002)
- Hymn Variants (1992)
- I Left my Heart in San Francisco (as transcriber; ed. Rogers) (1954/1963)
- Imperatrix (1972)
- In Dulci Jubilo (as arranger) (1970)
- In Memoriam (1972)
- Intrada Drammatica (1968/1992)
- Jazz Waltz. See: Concerto for Trumpet and Winds
- Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring (as arranger) (1723/1981)
- Jidai (2001)
- Joyeux Noël (Brass Ensemble) (1998)
- Joyeux Noël (Wind Ensemble) (1998/2001/2002)
- A Jubilant Overture (1970)
- A Jubilant Overture (arr. Conaway) (1970/2011)
- The King of Love My Shepherd Is (1995)
- L’Arlésienne Suite No 2 (as editor, with McAlister) (1872/2002)
- Laid-Back Rag
- Light Cavalry Overture (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1866/2003)
- A Little Concert Suite (1984)
- Lumberjack Overture
- Macarena (as arranger) (1992)
- Mancini! (as arranger) (1965)
- March Grandioso (as arranger) (1901/1969)
- Mary Poppins (as arranger) (1964/2006)
- Might and Majesty
- Millennium III (1999)
- Mr. Music (1990)
- The Music-Makers (1968)
- Music for Hamlet (1973/2018)
- Music in the Air! (2000)
- The Music Man: Highlights (as arranger) (1957/1959)
- My Fair Lady (as arranger) (1956/?)
- My Heart Is Filled With Longing (as arranger) (c. 1710/1986)
- Nimrod (as arranger) (1899/1965)
- Nocturne (as arranger) (1886/1953/1975)
- A Nordic Trilogy (with Erickson and Davis) (1967)
- A Northern Legend (1972)
- O Little Town (as arranger)
- O Most Wonderful (as arranger)
- Ode for Trumpet (1956)
- Old and New (2002)
- Othello (1977)
- Our Father Who Art in Heaven (as arranger) (1710/1988)
- Passacaglia (1967)
- Pavane for a Dead Princess (as orchestrator; ed. McAlister) (1899/1988)
- Piccolo Concerto in C major (as arranger) (1728-29/1962/1969)
- Pilgrim's Chorus (as arranger) (1845/1991)
- The Pledge of Allegiance (1970)
- Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 1 (as editor; tr. Retford) (1907/2000)
- Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 2 (as editor; tr. Retford) (1907/2000)
- Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 3 (as editor; tr. Retford) (1907/2000)
- Pomp and Circumstance Military March No. 4 (as editor; tr. Retford) (1907/2000)
- Praise Jerusalem! (1986)
- Prelude IV (as arranger) (1722/1983)
- Prelude and Capriccio (1978)
- Prelude, Op. 9, No. 1 (as arranger) (1894/1985)
- Prelude to Act III from "Lohengrin" (as arranger, with McAlister) (1850/2006)
- Presentation of the Silver Rose (as arranger) (1910/1988)
- Pro Texana (1984)
- Punchinello (1974)
- Radetzky March (as arranger) (1848/1993)
- Rahoon (1965)
- The Ramparts of Courage (1995)
- Rosalind in the Forest of Arden (2005)
- Rushmore (1981)
- Russian Christmas Music (1944)
- Russian Christmas Music (arr. Curnow) (1944/1990)
- A Sacred Suite
- Salutations! (1995)
- Samba. See: Concerto for Trumpet and Winds
- Seascape: A Dramatic Intermezzo (1962)
- Second Century (1986)
- Second Suite for Band (1980)
- Second Symphony (1979)
- Selections from Walt Disney's "Mary Poppins" (as editor; arr. Kostal) (1963/1964)
- Serenade (1966)
- Seventh Suite for Band (2002)
- The Severn Suite (as arranger) (1973)
- Siciliana Notturno (1977)
- Silver Shadow (1998/1999)
- Sine Nomine (as arranger) (1906/1976)
- Sixth Suite for Band
- Slavonic Folk Suite (1953/1987)
- Slow Blues. See: Concerto for Trumpet and Winds
- Sonata. See: Concerto for Trumpet and Winds
- Song. See: Concerto for Trumpet and Winds
- Song of the High Cascades
- Song of Threnos (1964)
- A Springtime Celebration (1991)
- The Strenuous Life (as arranger) (1902/1974)
- Sumus Futuro (1999)
- A Symphonic Prelude (1963)
- Symphony for Brass and Percussion (1952/1967)
- Symphony No. 1. See: Symphony for Brass and Percussion
- Symphony No. 2. See: Second Symphony
- Symphony No. 3 (1988)
- Variations on the Porazzi Theme of Wagner (1882/1988)
- Symphony No. 4. See: Fourth Symphony
- Symphony No. 5. See: Fifth Symphony
- Tannhäuser Grand March (as editor; tr. McAlister) (1847/2005)
- Tarantella (1996)
- Testament of an American (1974)
- Theme from "Lawrence of Arabia" (as arranger) (1963)
- Third Suite for Band (1982)
- Third Symphony. See: Symphony No. 3
- Three Chorales (as arranger; ed. McAlister) (?/2013)
- Three Revelations from the Lotus Sutra (1984)
- Three Symphonic Preludes (as arranger)
- Thunder and Lightning (1999)
- The Tsar's Farewell (as arranger) (2001)
- Twelfth Night (2003)
- Two Bagatelles (Flex instrumentation) (arr. Clark) (1983/1997/2010)
- Two Bagatelles (1983/1995)
- Two Bagatelles for Concert Band (1983/1997)
- Two Bagatelles for Four Trombones (1983)
- Variations on the Porazzi Theme of Wagner. See: Symphony No. 3
- Victory! (2005)
- Vilia (as arranger) (1905/1990)
- Vilabella March (as editor) (1970)
- Viva Musica! (1984)
- Wapawekka (1963)
- With Trumpets And Drums (1992)
Resources
- Pease, Andy. "Symphony for Brass and Percussion." The Wind Band Symphony Archive. Web. Accessed 12 June 2020
- Perusal score
- Reed, A. (1968). Symphony for Brass and Percussion [score]. Belwin Band: [Van Nuys, Calif.].