Programming repertoire for an ensemble is one of the most important aspects of one’s job as a conductor or director. Not only is this facet an important quality to have, but it is also a necessary staring point on the road to a wonderful performance. In this rationale, we will elaborate on a hypothetical approach to this necessary process with an imaginary high school group.
General Context
The imaginary group, called the Applevalley High School Symphonic Wind Band, is an ensemble of around fifty students with a mixture of performers in grades nine through twelve. For this concert, the occasion is the second concert of the year, usually occurring in the month of April as a wrap up of the school year. After the concert, the group will be preparing and fine-tuning some of the pieces to play at a local concert festival. …show more content…
This piece also provides another great value of form structure and harmonic progressions. One could use these aspects as teachable moments in the rehearsal process.
Cajun Folk Songs The two movement, six minute long piece of Cajun Folk Songs was written by Frank Ticheli in 1990. Ticheli, born in 1958, is a well-known, present day composer who has won many honors including the Charles Ives Scholarship. Currently, Ticheli is Professor of Composition at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Cajun Folk Songs is broken up into two movements, one slow and one fast. The first movement uses a Dorian mode based on D. Similar to the previous piece, this movement focuses on expression, with technical efforts focused towards playing lyrically and with a good tone. The second, more rhythmically driven movement, provides challenges in meter changes and independent playing, while also delivering a contrast in style for the audience.
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat
General Context
The imaginary group, called the Applevalley High School Symphonic Wind Band, is an ensemble of around fifty students with a mixture of performers in grades nine through twelve. For this concert, the occasion is the second concert of the year, usually occurring in the month of April as a wrap up of the school year. After the concert, the group will be preparing and fine-tuning some of the pieces to play at a local concert festival. …show more content…
This piece also provides another great value of form structure and harmonic progressions. One could use these aspects as teachable moments in the rehearsal process.
Cajun Folk Songs The two movement, six minute long piece of Cajun Folk Songs was written by Frank Ticheli in 1990. Ticheli, born in 1958, is a well-known, present day composer who has won many honors including the Charles Ives Scholarship. Currently, Ticheli is Professor of Composition at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Cajun Folk Songs is broken up into two movements, one slow and one fast. The first movement uses a Dorian mode based on D. Similar to the previous piece, this movement focuses on expression, with technical efforts focused towards playing lyrically and with a good tone. The second, more rhythmically driven movement, provides challenges in meter changes and independent playing, while also delivering a contrast in style for the audience.
Prelude and Fugue in B-flat