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March – Woodwind Quintet
The Suite of movements extracted by Tchaikovsky from his ballet music for The Nutcracker was an immediate success. As prevalent as the complete ballet The Nutcracker is today, it is hard to imagine that it took years, and perhaps the staging of George Balanchine, for it to become popular.
Some of the most memorable pieces from the suite are the Characteristic Dances. In Act II of the ballet, these movements are employed to introduce different residents of the “Land of Sweets.” Tchaikovsky’s orchestration makes adept use of wind instrument color. This translates very effectively in arrangements for the woodwind quintet.
In the March (Marche et petit galop des enfants) from Act I, children act as soldiers to music that is at the same time martial and innocent.
Composer: Mark Questad
Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, F Horn & Bassoon
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 2:40 / 23 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: G -
Dance of the Mirlitons – Woodwind Quintet
The Suite of movements extracted by Tchaikovsky from his ballet music for The Nutcracker was an immediate success. As prevalent as the complete ballet The Nutcracker is today, it is hard to imagine that it took years, and perhaps the staging of George Balanchine, for it to become popular.
Some of the most memorable pieces from the suite are the Characteristic Dances. In Act II of the ballet, these movements are employed to introduce different residents of the “Land of Sweets.” Tchaikovsky’s orchestration makes adept use of wind instrument color. This translates very effectively in arrangements for the woodwind quintet.
In this arrangement of Dance of the Toy Flutes (Danse des Mirlitons), flute, oboe and clarinet offer the famous “reed pipe” choir while horn and bassoon supply other elements of the orchestral texture.
Composer: Mark Questad
Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, F Horn & Bassoon
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 2:35 / 17 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: D -
Russian Dance: Trépak – Woodwind Quintet
The Suite of movements extracted by Tchaikovsky from his ballet music for The Nutcracker was an immediate success. As prevalent as the complete ballet The Nutcracker is today, it is hard to imagine that it took years, and perhaps the staging of George Balanchine, for it to become popular.
Some of the most memorable pieces from the suite are the Characteristic Dances. In Act II of the ballet, these movements are employed to introduce different residents of the “Land of Sweets.” Tchaikovsky’s orchestration makes adept use of wind instrument color. This translates very effectively in arrangements for the woodwind quintet.
The Russian Dance: Trépak ( Danse russe) is an energetic piece for all the instruments. It introduces Candy Canes in the Land of Sweets, building in excitement and speeding to the end.
Composer: Mark Questad
Instrumentation: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, F Horn & Bassoon
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 1:15 / 12 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: G -
Equinox – Large Brass Ensemble
Equal day, equal night, represented by double brass quintet, conical vs. cylindrical. Seating should be in an inverted V, with tuba on the outside left. Going up the left side, next to tuba is horn 3, then horn 2, horn 1 and cornet at the top of the inverted V. Coming down the right side is trumpet 1 at the top, trumpet 2, trombone 1, trombone 2 and bass trombone, facing tuba.
Brilliantly crafted to maximize the different timbres, the wide ranges and varying instrumental combinations, this is an impressive achievement accomplished with great skill and a welcome addition to the brass repertoire.
The sample score and mp3 excerpt include all three movements.
Total duration: ca. 11:15
I – Autumn (3:47)
II – In-between (3:45)
III – Spring (3:40)
Performers:David Wailes – Cornet
Andrew Pelletier – Horn
Jenny Kim – Horn
Bruce Hudson – Horn
Doug Tornquist – Tuba
Marissa Benedict – Trumpet
Larry Hall – Trumpet
Alex Iles – Trombone
Philip Keen – Trombone
Bill Reichenbach – Bass TromboneComposer: Anne McGinty
Instrumentation: Bb Cornet, 3 F Horns, Tuba, 2 Bb Trumpets, 2 Trombones & Bass Trombone
Duration/# of Pages: ca. 11:15 / 54 pages, 8.5″ x 11″
Key: N/A