Passacaglia (1972)
For Symphony Band
Premiere performance by the Arizona State University Symphony Band, Richard Strange, conductor, College Band Directors National Association National Conference, Berkeley, California, 1975.
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Passacaglia - Excerpt 1
Passacaglia - Excerpt 2
Passacaglia - Excerpt 3
Passacaglia - Excerpt 4
Passacaglia - Excerpt 5
Publisher Seesaw Music Corporation, a subsidiary of Subito Music Corporation (phone - 973-857-3440)
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Scored for Piccolo, Flutes 1, 2, 3; Oboes 1, 2; Soprano Clarinet (Eb), Clarinets 1, 2, 3 (Bb), Alto Clarinets (Eb), Bass Clarinets (Bb), Contra Alto Clarinet (Eb), Contra Bass Clarinet (Bb); Bassoons 1, 2, Contra Bassoon; Alto Saxophones 1, 2, Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone; Cornets 1, 2, 3 (Bb); Trumpets 1, 2 (Bb); Horns 1, 2, 3, 4 (F); Trombones 1, 2, Bass Trombone; Euphonium, Tuba; Percussion 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.
Duration 9 minutes
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Program note
Passacagliais a dark and brooding work; at the same time it intense and highly colored. It is dedicated to my beloved music teacher from my teen years, Harry Bolza. Harry died as I was completing the score.
Leonard Falcone, director of bands at Michigan State University from 1927 until 1967, made a special effort to seek me out in order to encourage me to compose a new work suitable for entry in the 1974 American Bandmasters Association – Ostwald Contest. Having experienced some notoriety with Sensations, I was eager to do more in the band medium. I heeded the maestro’s suggestion and wrote the Passacaglia. I entered the competition, only to come is second once again. But there were several important performances of Passacaglia. It went on to win the North Central Division slot in the Eighteenth National Conference of the College Band Directors National competition (Berkeley, California, 1975), was performed for the Seventh Annual Spring Conference on Wind and Percussion Music at Western Michigan University, and was performed by the New England Conservatory Wind Ensemble at the Eleventh Annual Conference of the American Society of University Composers.
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