Year of the Dragon (2017 edition)

From Wind Repertory Project
Philip Sparke

Philip Sparke


General Info

Year: 1984 / 1985 / 2017
Duration: c. 13:50
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Original Medium: Brass band
Publisher: Studio Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - £149.95   |   Score Only (print) - £29.95


Movements

1 Toccata – 3:30
2 Interlude – 6:45
3 Finale – 4:40


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I-II
English Horn
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
Bassoon I-II
Contrabassoon
B-flat Soprano Saxophone
E-flat Alto Saxophone
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
E-flat Trumpet
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III-IV
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV

  • Bass Drum
  • Bongos (2)
  • Chimes
  • Crash Cymbals
  • Glockenspiel I-II (II extended range required (high C#))
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tam-tam
  • Tambourine
  • Triangle
  • Tom-toms (3: high, medium, and low)
  • Vibraphone
  • Wood Block
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The 2017 version of The Year of the Dragon was commissioned by the Siena Wind Orchestra and given its world premiere on June 17th 2017 in Bunkyo Civic Hall, Tokyo, conducted by the composer.

The original wind band arrangement of The Year of the Dragon was made in 1985, a year after the composer wrote the brass band version. At that time he was still learning the intricacies of writing for wind band (and still is!), and in the 32 years which have elapsed since then, his approach to scoring for the medium has developed and, hopefully, improved.

Here are the main differences between the two versions:

In the 1980s, the wind band movement was much less international than it is now. British wind bands were still to some extent based on the military band tradition of the time, which tended to use rather smaller instrumentation than the then-dominant American university model. The new version embraces a much more international instrumentation, including low woodwinds and string bass, as well as an expanded percussion section.

In the original version there was a touch of naivety in the way the composer wrote for the woodwinds; much of their articulation was transferred too literally from the brass version, resulting in some unidiomatic writing, which he has tried to improve in the new version.

In addition to the above, Philip's own compositional style has matured and developed in the intervening 32 years. There are some passages in the original which he simply would not write today -- not because they are ’wrong’, but because his way of writing has changed. The new version is perhaps how he would have written it today, rather than simply dressing the original version in new clothes.


The work is in three movements:

Toccata opens with an arresting side drum figure and snatches of themes from various sections of the band, which try to develop until a broad and powerful theme from the middle of the band asserts itself. A central dance-like section soon gives way to the return of this theme, which subsides until faint echoes of the opening material fade to a close.

Interlude takes the form of a sad and languid solo for alto saxophone. A chorale for the whole band introduces a brief spell of optimism, but the saxophone solo returns to close the movement quietly.

Finale is a real tour-de-force for the band with a stream of rapid semi-quavers running throughout the movement. The main theme is heroic and march-like, but this is interspersed with lighter, more playful episodes. A distant fanfare to the sound of bells is introduced, and this eventually returns to bring the work to a stirring close.

- Program Notes by composer


Media

(Needed - please join the WRP if you can help.)


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources

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