Kronos
It's November and I'm already thinking about Concert Festival. Formally, it's known as the Kentucky Music Educator's Association (KMEA) Instrumental Large Ensemble Assessment for District 12. Simply put, the Louisville bands are going to festival. This is a major event for me for a variety of reasons.
(I should note here that while festival is supposed to be about the kids - that's all a bunch of hooey. It's really about the director. It's a big fish bowl for directors to bring their group and have the other directors talk about how bad or great they were until the next year. It's a political game. Why play? I'm sure I'll be asking that question many times over the next few months)
#1. I have not yet taken a group to festival in KY. This will be my "premier" showing.
#2. Doss has not been to festival in many, many years. This will also be their "premier" showing.
#3. Pam (aka the big boss, head of all music and everything that happens in my district) likes me. For whatever reason she thinks I'm great. I cannot destroy that image.
#4. I am internally competitive. I am a terrible team player because I like everyone to have a good time. But when it's me against me, I become ruthless. I have to prove to myself that I can take this group and turn them into something bigger. Something better. Something musical.
In order for all of these things to happen, I need the perfect piece of music. I have a detailed checklist in my head that this piece must abide by:
It can't be written by any composer that also writes for beginning band
It can't have more than 2 clarinet or 2 trumpet parts
It must not have a intricate alto or bass line
It must have a ton of percussion parts
It cannot be a "ballad"
It cannont be a cheesy ABA Overture (i.e. all of Swearingen's music)
It has to show off our strengths (WW)
It must hide our weaknesses (lack of alto voices)
I can't be a piece that has been played by every other band for the past 20 years
It can't be a piece that no one's ever heard of
My kids will have to enjoy playing it.
I think I've found a winner. What do you think?
Kronos by Robert W. Smith
I should have the music by tomorrow or Monday so I can get a detailed look at the score.
3 comments:
oooh i love it! robert w. smith - the inferno, one of my favorites. i think kronos great for your group. sounds like it meets pretty much all of your criteria. as long as your flute players aren't embarrassed being heard. (this coming from a shy oboe player.) i think it's great.
Kronos, the Greek word for time? I like the music. I have never heard it before. However, you must remember that I am sort of stuck in the 60's. It sounds like it would be a fun piece to learn. Good Luck.
lcr
Yes, the rhythmic sections are supposed to mimick the sounds of a clock.
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