FEATURED COMPOSITION: LAKE PLEASANT SUITE (Concert Band) I grew up in a small town in New York State’s Adirondack Mountains, and although I haven’t lived there for over 45 years, I maintain a strong connection to the area, with many family members and friends still living there. So it was that in late 2010, I got an e-mail from the historian for my home town asking if I would be interested in composing something for the town’s bicentennial celebration in 2012, to be played by the local community band (named “A Pretty Good Band,” they do live up to their name). I had written for this band once before and immediately agreed. Given an 8-minute time limit, but otherwise free reign as to what to compose, I decided on a suite of 4 short movements describing memories of places and events from my childhood. Here is a description of the movements from the preface to the score, followed by links to a recording and a preview of the score with purchase information: 1. Sunrise over the Lake A gradual expansion of sound based on the horn call at m. 3 brings the lakeshore from predawn darkness to brilliant sunlight. 2. School Picnic at Moffit Beach A march/scherzo expresses the end-of-school exuberance of the school children. 3. Canoeing on Kunjamuck Creek A gently flowing passacaglia, with hints of arch form, depicts the calm, wooded creek. 4. Hiking up Hamilton Mountain An insistent ostinato bass suggests plodding footsteps as a fugue unfolds above, taking a group of excited hikers up the trail to the lookout atop the mountain. Grade 3 Duration 8:00 Publisher: Dacker Music Price: $55.00 Buy from J.W. Pepper (and/or preview entire score - the recording can also be played here, as well as from the link below) jwpepper/10379383.item#viewer-tab Recording* dackermusic/uploads/3/1/8/0/3180170/lake_pleasant_suite.wma *Unfortunately, the bicentennial performance by “A Pretty Good Band” was not recorded. This recording is by the Shoreline Concert Band, in Washington State, where I am composer-in-residence.
Posted on: Wed, 12 Jun 2013 13:02:22 +0000
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