The Red Balloon Anne McGinty

Anne McGinty

Band Group 1
Biographical Information:

Anne McGinty is considered one of the most prolific female wind band

composers today, and has written works for young beginner’s ensembles as well as

works for the highly mature wind band. In total, McGinty has composed over 200

published works. These pieces range from beginning band to string orchestra to

flute ensemble pieces. Notably, McGinty was the first female composer

commissioned to write an original work for the United States Army Band. Her work

is lauded as being both entertaining as well as highly educational.

McGinty, a native of Findlay, Ohio, studied at Ohio State University for a short while under the direction of Donald McGinnis before pursuing flute performance in

a professional setting. She played principal flute with the Tucson Symphony

Orchestra, the Tucson Pops Orchestra, and the TSO Woodwind Quintet. McGinty

finally returned to college and after graduating summa cum laude, continued to

pursue her master’s degree in Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

McGinty served on the Board of Directors of the National Flute Association, and,

while she no longer plays flute professionally, has taught flute at several Midwest

colleges. McGinty is the co-founder of Queenwood Publications, which was absorbed

by Kjos Music Company in 2002. During her time with Queenwood, McGinty

produced 11 full band methods books.

The Red Balloon is a piece in one movement with minimal polyphony. Most of the piece is structured like an expanded melody with accompaniment that is passed around the ensemble. As it is a beginning band piece, many parts are optional or easily expanded if the ensemble is large. For example, McGinty included a “Low Brass & Woodwinds” part, so a conductor could place either one or several students on a single part if need be. The horn and tenor sax parts are optional, as well. In fact, the only parts deemed necessary by the composer are the flute, oboe, Bb clarinets, Eb alto saxophones, cornets/trumpets, and general percussion.

The Red Balloon is based on a painting McGinty once saw. The painting

depicts a grandfather and child in black and white. The only color in the pictures a red balloon which the child is holding. The piece itself depicts the balloon

floating in the air. With this in mind, it is important to keep the legato nature of

this piece as a top priority. The music must have a light and “floaty” nature, and

cannot be executed too heavily. In addition to this, many small entrances (especially

percussion) are meant to serve as color changes, so they must be understated

instead of at the forefront. Special care must be taken to ensure that phrases are

passed between instruments smoothly – there should be no gaps or unwritten rests

in performance. A part of the “Developing Band” Series – use this as an educational tool, not as an ultimate expression of art!

Technical Information:

• 
  Throughout piece, dotted quarters and half notes are played by different instruments – these may be difficult to line up correctly
  
• 
  Understanding of consistent four-bar phrases
  
• 
  Intonation is important – mm. 17-24 melody in octaves
  
• 
  Clarinets have to cross the break – be wary of this if playing with very young
  

• 
  Must keep the “floaty” – sustained melodies and phrases
  
• 
  Cannot allow sound to “break” while being passed between instrument
  

• 
  Highly legato nature of piece may prove hard stylistically for both
  

• 
  Dynamic shifts are subtle and may have to be exaggerated to be convincing in a
  

• 
  Allow for color changes within the music to shine through without being too
  

• 
  Due to the disjunct nature of the percussion parts, it is advisable to cue the
  

entrance

• 
  Warn the band members of the B natural and E natural since there is no key
  

• 
  Must maintain energy throughout each sustained note (of which there are many)
  

Form:

Theme in flute and oboe, countermelody in clarinet 1 (G major scale)

Sustained pitches in clarinet 2, alto sax, and glockenspiel (C Major)

Triangle hits

Slurred lines

Rising and falling melody line

Melody in flute, broken chords in clarinet 1, sustained pitches in clarinet 2

and alto sax, ornamentation in glockenspiel (fills the gap)

Triangle hits on beat two of alternating measures

Snare drum and suspended cymbal enters on beat 4 of m. 16

(m. 17-24)

Theme in oboe, clarinets, horn, and glockenspiel (D Major scale)

Four-part chords in flute, a. sax, trumpets, and low brass/woodwinds (G

major) Slurred melody

Theme in trumpets, countermelody in clarinet 1 (Ab Major scale)

Sustained chords in clarinet 2, a. sax, low brass/woodwinds, and bells (Db

Major)

4 bar interlude –call and response (D Major), moving line in clarinet 1

Claves and Tambourine

m. 37 –theme in low brass/woodwinds (Eb Major scale)

Sustained chords in flute, oboe clarinets, alto saxes, trumpets, horn (Eb7

Chord)

4 bar phrase with 2 bar extension –ritardando to A Tempo at m. 47

Continuation of theme in low brass/woodwinds

A Tempo

(m. 47-56)

Theme in alto sax, countermelody in clarinet 1

Flutes join melody at m. 51 (F Major scale)

Sustained chords in clarinet and low brass/woodwinds (Bb Major)

(m. 57-63)

Trumpet melody

Leading into return of theme in m. 63

Crescendo at m. 62

First entrance of bass and snare drums

(m. 63-71)

Theme in winds, French horn, and glockenspiel

Theme in solo trumpet - extension

Chords in low brass/woodwinds, a. sax, and clarinets

2 bar extension building to theme in m. 81

clarinets, a. sax, and low brass/woodwinds

Suggested Listenings:

1. 
   Anne McGinty, Legend of the Eagle, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugV3WFlQtRU
   
2. 
   CCSU Wind Ensemble, N. Dello Joio, Scenes From the Louvre, http://
   

3. 
   Anne McGinty, ‘Tis a Gift, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHCpZeUPOUs
   

Sources/Bibliography:

• 
  "ANNE MCGINTY(Findlay, Ohio; June 29, 1945)." Anne McGinty.
  

• 
  Music Program Notes for Band and Wind Ensemble, http://windband.org/foothill/pgm_note/notes_mn.htm#McGinty
  
• 
  Neil A. Kjos Music Company, http://www.kjos.com/detail.php?division=1&table=author&auth_id=798
  
• 
  “The Concordia College Band Tour” Program Notes
  

Ammerland

Jacob de Haan

Band Group 1

Jacob de Haan was born on March 28th, 1959 in Heerenveen, Netherlands. He received piano instruction at a young age, and continued on to study at the State Conservatoire in Leeuwarden after high school. He majored in “school music” and organ while at the Conservatoire. In addition, he minored in “trumpet and fanfare and wind band direction.” He taught arranging at the same conservatoire after graduation, and continues to arrange and compose now.

De Hann is one of the most popular and most played wind music composers

of this time and his works are known worldwide. His compositions are mostly

written on commission and he has noted works that are based on film-music-

like combinations of styles. He composes concert works are of varying difficulty,

short concertante works, didatic material for beginners, entertainment music, and

marches. De Haan regularly acts as a guest conductor with performances of his

own works in Europe, Australia, and the United States. He lectures in arranging

at the Music Academy Leeuwarden and he his a jury member at international

competitions.
Composition Information:

Ammerland takes the listener through a journey through the enchanting

region of Zwischenahner Lake. De Hann considers the region especially beautiful,

and so he strove to display the beauty of the area through this piece. The music

should evoke images of fields of flowers, lush meadows, seemingly endless country

roads, and an exquisite lakeside. To this end, the piece is simple, stropic, and rather

consonant in nature. Ammerland is commissioned by the Basorchester “Brass Sax”

on the occasion of it’s 5th anniversary.

“Ammerland” comes from the 10th century, and is derived from the word

“Ameri,” a word describing a swamp. Ammerland is a rural area in the lower part of

West Germany that is known for its flat countryside, many windmills and distinct

Frisian influence. The rural country area of Ammerland is a beautiful nature area

with brilliant colors of unique landscapes. Today, Ammerland stands as an

attractive parkland often visited for it’s ideal cycling paths and beautiful scenery. It

is full of windmills, which serve as a symbol for the district.

The composer says this about the piece with regards to the Ammerland

district: “Get an impression of this enchanting region by the Zwischenahner Lake!

The rural parts of Ammerland combine fields covered with yellow rape blossoms,

lush meadows, seemingly endless country roads, and an exquisite lakeside. Let

yourself be lured away on a short musical trip to beautiful Ammerland. Enjoy

nature, the lakeside, and the brilliant colors of a unique landscape.” While the

harmony is simple, there is a warmth and darkness to the melody that invokes the

grandeur of such a landscape. Low brass play a rather prevalent role in the melodic

content of this work, and the piece must be played in a very legato fashion.
Technical Information:

• 
  Grade 2 1⁄2 work – not very many pitfalls from a technical standpoint
  
• 
  Dynamics sometimes independent of phrases (which tend to be in four-
  

• 
  Director is highly encouraged to cue percussion due to their minimal parts
  
• 
  Ensemble entrances (i.e. m. 16) must feel like “arrival points”, so attention
  

measures

• 
  Relative dynamics – tutti ensemble is playing at m. 16, but is only at a mezzo
  

• 
  Third statement of the melody is fairly rhythimicized and warrants greater
  

• 
  Creating a difference between each statement of the melody.
  
• 
  Intonation
  
• 
  For a grade 1 work, the flute line gets really high in register at the end.
  
• 
  Fingerings and intonation will be an issue. It will also be a challenge for
  

• 
  Carrying through the line –breath support
  
• 
  Dialogue between instruments
  
• 
  Balance between melody and countermelody
  

Form:

breaks down into 4+10 that is traded around to different instruments. The piece is

really short and only includes 3 full statements of the melody with short 1 bar

increments that segue into each new section. At only 47 measures long, the piece is

over and done with before you know it!
Theme 1 (1-15)

Key: Eb Major

Suspended cymbal on m. 15 –poco rallantando

1 – 4 Melody begins in clarinets / tenor sax / euphonium

5 – 15 Horn joins melody and continues throughout section
Theme 2 (16-30)

A tempo

m. 30 poco rallantando and crescendo into key change

16–23 Shared melody between high WW and trumpet, euphonium countermelody

24–27 Melody in clarinet / alto sax / trumpets / horn

28–30Tutti ensemble joins and completes theme melody
Theme 3 – (31-47)

A tempo

Key: C major

Use of upper register in winds

Full texture

Molto rallantando to end

31 – 39 Tutti ensemble melody besides counterpoint – trumpets / clarinets,

euphonium becomes countermelody over time

40 – 47 Melody in high WW / trumpet / euphonium / glockenspiel, trombones /

euphonium / horn / alto join melody to closing
Suggested Listening:

Jacob de Haan, Virginia, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tia28IWM8Ec

James Barnes, Yorkshire Ballad, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNRKRUIo80I

Führs & Fröhling, Ammerland, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCtaDVkuu4w

De Haan’s website has 2 demo tracks that are both of high quality, http://

www.jacobdehaan.com/

Filarmonica di Tresigallo, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYmS9cBe9Cw

1. 
   Ammerland, Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammerland
   

3. Jacob de Haan, official homepage, http://www.jacobdehaan.com/

4. University of Arkansas Program Notes, Ammerland, http://bands.uark.edu/Band/Media_Gallery_files/Campus%3ASymphonic Concert.pdf
GRADE II

Down A Country Lane

Aaron Copland/trans. Merlin Patterson

Group 2
Biographical Information:

Merlin Patterson was born in 1955 in Galena Park, Texas. After developing a love for music, he attended college at Sam Houston State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in music education and a master’s degree in conducting. He developed an acute skill for arranging and during his twenty-eight years of teaching he arranged dozens of musical standards for band, one of which was Copland’s Down A Country Lane.

• 
  Grade: 3
  
• 
  This piece is based on two scales, F major and D-flat major.
  
• 
  Instrument range is quite manageable for the intermediate band. Occasionally there are octave jumps in flute, clarinet, and trombone one parts which might be difficult for player to play in tune.
  
• 
  Time signature stays in 4/4 time and there is very little tempo changing.
  
• 
  Trumpets will need cup mutes, could potentially lead to intonation and balance issues.
  
• 
  This piece should be performed very legato which will expose intonation and air-support issues.
  

1. 
   Humboldt State University Symphonic Band: Down A Country Lane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x23nB7_IRHI
   
2. 
   Loyola Wind Ensemble: Down A Country Lane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQVxtThumWE
   
3. 
   Original piano version: Down a Country Lane     http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfWdsOt-Yks
   
4. 
   New York Philharmonic: Fanfare for the Common Man https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqaP373oLnk
   

Sources/Bibliography:

Michael Colgrass

Biographical Information:

Michael Colgrass was born in Chicago in 1932 and even though he was born in America he is considered a Canadian composer. Colgrass began his career as a jazz drummer in Chicago from 1944-49. In 1954 he graduated from the University of Illinois in 1954 with degrees in performance and composition. Colgrass has studied with Darius Milhaud, Wallingford Riegger and Lukas Foss, and has performed with several high-class ensembles and orchestras. He has received commissions from major orchestras and symphonies across the nation.

Major works of his include Déjà vu (for which he received a Pulitzer Prize in 1978), Crossworlds, Zululand, Pan Trio, and Side by Side, all commissioned and premiered by universities and performers.

Composition Information:

According to Michael Colgrass, Old Churches is one of the most challenging pieces he’s written. He wrote it specifically for younger bands, but in such a way so it would still be challenging and expressive. Old Churches is written to emulate Gregorian chant, and he uses graphic notation and unconventional techniques/instruments to help create the image of voices and bells echoing in a monastery.

Historical and Stylistic Information:

Colgrass wrote this piece with Gregorian chant in mind. Gregorian chant dates back to the 9^th and 10^th centuries, and was developed as a monophonic, unaccompanied sacred song of Western Christian Churches. This idea explains why Colgrass uses a single-line motive in a lot of the piece. Colgrass’ use of graphic notation with the pots and later murmuring in woodwinds is similar to the early use of neumes in Gregorian music.

Colgrass has a few videos on his use of graphic notation, some of which involve working with kids. In the video linked below, he encourages the kids to notate what they’re hearing in their heads on a chalkboard. The kids go up one by one and talk through what they’re hearing, and together as a small group they try and figure out how best to notate it. It’s pretty interesting to watch (although it is short and doesn’t give much of Colgrass’s method at all), but the students all clearly have a sound in their head of what they want to hear and have no problem notating or describing it.

Technical Information :

-Interpreting the graphic notation, and knowing when to cut off or play your next passage. Sometimes the graphic notation only lasts two bars, and I know that sometimes I get caught up in figuring out what to play rather than paying attention to how many beats have gone by already, so that would be something to look out for as a potential issue.

-Figuring out how to play the pots would be another issue, as that is not really a normal instrument in a middle school band. There are plenty of videos about it on youtube though.

-The ending would take some work on the directors’ part. It says that the conductor starts each flute, and then he would also have to cue in each next group of players while demonstrating the fade necessary for low woodwinds and brass, and maintaining the murmurs.

-Entrances, and making sure your kids are paying attention to durations.

Form:

M. 1-8:

-Kitchen pots are also being used for the same 6 measures.

-Clarinets 2 and 3 enter with alternating chords beginning in m. 3 and ending in m. 8.

-Clarinet 1 comes in with the main melody at m. 6.

-In m. 8, bassoon, bass clarinet come in with “murmuring” passage for three measures (just one in bassoon).

M. 9-16:

-Trombones, tuba and trumpet 1/2 play an accompaniment pattern or chords in m. 9-10.

-Ensemble diminuendo to m. 12, Clarinets pick up flutes beginning motive (fluttering notes) and the pots come back into play from m. 12-14.

-m. 13, flute comes in with another variation on the main motive. Alto sax comes in with chords.