Joe Hull

Compositional Considerations

 

 

 

 

Aztec Dance, by: Michael Story

 

          Teaching Opportunites: Key is Concert Eb.  it will expose students to G Phrygian, F Dorian, c minor, and

          ends on Eb Maj.  (relative minor).  Clarinets will stay below the break, but must be comfortable with

          different fingerings.

 

Songs of the Whalemen, by: Elliot Del Borgo

 

          Teaching Opportunities: Written in d minor, so students should be comfortable since it is in Concert F.

          Students should know scales with up to four flats because chromatisism is used.  The flutes and

          clarinets will have to work on phrasing and expressivnes because they have many exposed section

          in the music.

 

Cumberland Cross, by: Carl strommen

 

           Teaching Opportunites: This piece is based upon Bb pentatonic, but furthermore, it exposes students

           American history.  It incorporates elements of composer of American band music 'Aaron Copland.'

 

Russian Folk Fantasy, by: James Curnow

 

           Teaching Opportunites: This piece can teach students to play in a bombastic marcato style.  The melodies

           have been borrowd from traditional Russian folk melodies.  There are challenging lines in the Alto

           sax, and trumpet parts that have interval jumps by 5ths, and 6ths.

 

A Child's Embrace, by: Charles Rochester Young

 

           This piece will use a full spectrum of Dynamic levels.  Attention to accedentals is crucial as is shifts

           keys several times.  It is a long piece, and will introduce young players to sensitivity in their playing.

 

Korean Folk Song Medley, by: James D. Ployhar

 

           This piece is a grade 2, but uses the same melody as the classic John Barnes Chance piece,

           "Korean Folk Song."  that melody is "Arirang."  This would be a great piece to teach smooth

           transitions.  It switches times signatures and styles.  This must be done seemlessly.

 

Westridge Overture, by: James Barnes

 

           Teaching Opportunies:  This piece would be gret for students to be exposed to because of the

           stylistic contrasts.  This composition has no programatic features.  It is just great piece and one

           that should be considered as a concert opener. 

 

Old Scottish Melody, by: Charles A. Wiley

 

           Teaching Opportunites:  This piece is based around the "Auld Lang Syne" melody.  Though this piece

           stays in F Maj., and the rhythms are fairly simple, musch attention must be given to playing

          with true expression and legato style.