Echoing Flares | Wind Ensemble
Echoing Flares | Wind Ensemble
Duration: 9 Minutes
Echoing Flares takes inspiration from Nasa's time-lapsed video "SDO: Year 5". The video showcases how our massive sun changes over a year. Instead of its enormous size, the video focuses on the solar flares that emerge out of it. These flares expand, explode, ooze, shimmer, and spiral out of the sun. These expressive gestures establish the main material for the composition. Rhythmic values are stretched throughout the piece to get the sense of expansion. Explosions come from many percussive impacts that strike in unexpected places. The oozing is shown from many trombone glissandos and sliding elements throughout the work. Many different mutes in the brass, such as the Harmon mute, and colorful percussion instruments, such as bowed crotales, show the shimmering through the ensemble. The woodwinds perform fast circling passages resulting in a spiraling effect. All these elements react to each other to create an overwhelming colorful image of the sun with a wind ensemble.
2022 Engraving done by Josh Trentadue
Finalist in the 2019 National Band Associations Young Composer Mentor Project
Performance Notes
-This piece REQUIRES Contrabassoon, Bass Trombone, and Contrabass Clarinet. No substitutions or omissions are allowed.
-Tempos should be taken at their specified markings, no slower and no faster. Performers should also keep the rhythmic momentum lively by not slowing down the tempo of the work as time goes on.
-Different Time Signatures are given at the same time for certain instruments. The beat is the same whether in duple or triple meter. This is done to help clean up the notation and help musicians obtain a clear style of triple or duple meter.
-Articulations are given to help execute the right style for each section. Follow the given directions to help propel the music forward.
-Dynamics are given to show intended effects. However, performers do not need to stretch their dynamics, in particular at the higher decibels. The orchestration and harmonies throughout the ensemble will create louder and fuller sounds for each performer.
-Staccatos in this work determine the style of the point of attack, rather than the length of the note. Be sure that staccatos still have length to help propel rhythmic momentum.
Instrumentation
Piccolo
2 Flutes
2 Oboes
2 Bassoons
Eb Clarinet
3 Bb Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Contrabass Clarinet
Soprano Saxophone
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
3 Bb Trumpets (1: Optional Bb Piccolo Trumpet, m216 - end)
2 Flugelhorns
4 Horns
3 Trombones
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Timpani
6 Percussionists
