Roger Zare Music

Aerodynamics

Full Orchestra
String Orchestra
Wind Ensemble
Vocal
Chamber
Solo Instrumental

Aerodynamics is a work focused on the continuation of fluid gestures. Every line is echoed and mirrored so that a simple idea expands into a wash of sound. The listener may imagine taking flight throughout this piece, dipping and swooping as the shape of the music weaves its way from high to low and from small to large. This work uses a very limited amount of material, almost entirely consisting of a repetitive two note motive and a fleeting melody. The constant underlying motion builds energy and results in a climax that combines the two ideas in a majestic tutti.

The orchestral version of this work was premiered on November 21, 2009 by the Minnesota Orchestra, Osmo Vänskä conducting. There is also a transcription for wind ensemble, and it was premiered by the Cincinnati College-Conservatory Wind Symphony, Rodney Winther conducting, on October 20, 2010.

Orchestral instrumentation*:

3 flutes (3rd doubles piccolo), 3 oboes (3rd is English Horn), 3 Bb clarinets (3rd doubles bass clarinet), 3 bassoons (3rd is contrabassoon)
4 horns in F, 3 Bb trumpets, 3 trombones (3rd is bass), 1 tuba
Timpani, 3 or 4 Percussion
Harp, Piano/Celesta, Strings

Wind ensemble instrumentation:

Piccolo, 3 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 3 Bb clarinets, Bb bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon
soprano sax, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax
4 horns in F, 3 Bb trumpets, 3 trombones, 2 euphoniums, tuba
Timpani, 4 Percussionists
Harp, Piano/Celesta, Contrabass

Percussion required for both versions:
Vibraphone, Glockenspiel, Crotales, 2 Suspended Cymbals, Tam-tam, Small Triangle, Snare Drum, 5 Tom-toms, Bass Drum.

*There are two versions of the orchestral instrumentation, the above listing with triple winds and a reduced version for double winds with all doublings and 2221 brass. There are also two variants in the percussion setups, requiring three or four players, where the smaller setup works perfectly well and the larger setup adds a bit more depth to the color.

Wind Ensemble version
performed by the CCM Wind Symphony, Rodney Winther conducting

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