(Don't) Be Flat (2016) - 8'
[Don’t] Be flat is pronounced “be flat” out loud with a silent “don’t" which I think is appropriate since the work is premiering with an organization that has a silent dot in its name (Pale Blue.). [Don’t] Be Flat is an exciting rhapsody through the culture of today’s “hip” music written for classical musicians. The work both mocks and praises works from a variety of composers and general sounds/orchestrations associated with it particularly in wind ensemble music. Most importantly the work is about the ubiquity of the note/key, B-flat, especially in, once again, band works. As this is my first wind ensemble piece I thought I’d start off by acknowledging the existing literature. While it is customary that my program notes offend someone, at this point I’m guessing band directors or wind-oriented composers, know that I had a wonderful time finally finishing a work for wind ensemble and truly admire the medium. May this piece exhaust you of any admiration towards the note B-flat.
Instrumentation
Piccolo 1+2
Flute 1+2 (2nd with Piccolo 3 and Alto Flute)
Oboe 1+2
English Horn
E-flat Clarinet
B-flat Clarinet 1-3 (one or two players per part)
Bass Clarinet
Contra-alto Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Bass Saxophone
Bassoon 1+2
Contrabassoon
B-flat Piccolo Trumpet (with Plunger and Straight Mute)
B-flat Trumpet 1+2 (1 with Plunger, 1+2 with Straight Mute)
Flugelhorn (with Straight Mute or Cloth)
Horn 1-4
Trombone 1-4 (1+2=Tenor, 3=Tenor or Bass, 4=Bass) (2+3 with Harmon Mute and Plunger)
Euphonium 1+2
Tuba 1+2
Piano
Timpani with Chimes
Percussion 1: Vibraphone 1, High Wood Block, 4 Almglocken (Ab,D,E,F), 2 Car Horns, Flexatone, Police Whistle,
Brake Drum
Percussion 2: Slapstick, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone 2, Air Horn, Large Dinner Bell, Chamber Bass Drum, Suspended
Cymbal
Percussion 3: High Triangle, Crotales, Small Cowbell with Clapper, 3 Opera Gongs (any pitches available - High,
Medium, Low), Temple Blocks (5), 4 Tuned Gongs (Bb2,Db3,Ab3,Bb3), Chimes (shared with Timpani)
Percussion 4: Bass Drum, Tam-tam, 2 Metal Bars, 2 Roto Toms, Bongo Drums, 3 Opera Gongs (shared with Perc. 3)
Percussion 5: Drum Set (Snare Drum, 3 Toms, Kick Drum, Crash Cymbal, China Cymbal, Splash Cymbal, Hi-hat)
Instrumentation
Piccolo 1+2
Flute 1+2 (2nd with Piccolo 3 and Alto Flute)
Oboe 1+2
English Horn
E-flat Clarinet
B-flat Clarinet 1-3 (one or two players per part)
Bass Clarinet
Contra-alto Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Bass Saxophone
Bassoon 1+2
Contrabassoon
B-flat Piccolo Trumpet (with Plunger and Straight Mute)
B-flat Trumpet 1+2 (1 with Plunger, 1+2 with Straight Mute)
Flugelhorn (with Straight Mute or Cloth)
Horn 1-4
Trombone 1-4 (1+2=Tenor, 3=Tenor or Bass, 4=Bass) (2+3 with Harmon Mute and Plunger)
Euphonium 1+2
Tuba 1+2
Piano
Timpani with Chimes
Percussion 1: Vibraphone 1, High Wood Block, 4 Almglocken (Ab,D,E,F), 2 Car Horns, Flexatone, Police Whistle,
Brake Drum
Percussion 2: Slapstick, Glockenspiel, Vibraphone 2, Air Horn, Large Dinner Bell, Chamber Bass Drum, Suspended
Cymbal
Percussion 3: High Triangle, Crotales, Small Cowbell with Clapper, 3 Opera Gongs (any pitches available - High,
Medium, Low), Temple Blocks (5), 4 Tuned Gongs (Bb2,Db3,Ab3,Bb3), Chimes (shared with Timpani)
Percussion 4: Bass Drum, Tam-tam, 2 Metal Bars, 2 Roto Toms, Bongo Drums, 3 Opera Gongs (shared with Perc. 3)
Percussion 5: Drum Set (Snare Drum, 3 Toms, Kick Drum, Crash Cymbal, China Cymbal, Splash Cymbal, Hi-hat)