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Full Orchestra
String Orchestra
Wind Ensemble
Vocal
Chamber
Solo Instrumental
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"Collective Effervescence" is a term that describes the incredible emotional rush when someone joins a large crowd of people with a single purpose. This is often felt when people attend concerts featuring their favorite band and at sporting events when the vast majority of fans are cheering for the same team. The crowd's energy is palpable and absorbed into each individual, and an interesting thing happens. As each person merges into the unified mindset, their sense of individuality fades and is replaced by an ecstatic emotion, often described as far more potent than those feelings experienced outside of a group setting.
A wind ensemble puts together dozens of instruments of differing sound production and tone, and the musicians often come from many backgrounds and experiences. Making music together unites all of them into a single purpose, and the result is far greater than the sum of its parts. This incredible activity creates a sense of connection and belonging and can raise our spirits whether we participate or simply witness it.
This piece uses three different elements of chance and improvisation as it builds towards creating a sense of collective effervescence. In the beginning, surrounding a slow chorale, a large group of instruments chime in sporadically with brief responses, simulating a crowd of people beginning to converse and coalesce. Each player is given freedom of when they play their responses, so no two performances will be exactly the same. The second improvised element instructs musicians to repeat a musical idea over and over at a suggested speed. Mixing and overlaying these gestures at different speeds creates the sound of a murmuring or cheering crowd.
The third improvisation element asks musicians to play solos, quite similar to that of solos in jazz. At first, one musician at a time gets the spotlight while the rest of the ensemble grooves. Then a second and a third take their turns. Gradually a crowd gathers as soloists start speaking up before others have finished, creating a bit of a purposeful cacophony, overwhelming the groove.
The sound of a large crowd shifts from chaotic to unified in the final section of this piece. As the opening chorale reemerges, large masses of musicians merge together to create a joyful sound, cheering with energetic rising musical gestures. All of the pent up tension from the middle section is released in a cathartic explosion.
This composition was commissioned as part of Emergence: Compositions for Concert Band with Improvisation, a consortium project led by Dr. Courtney Snyder
John Hersey High School, Spencer Hile, premiering ensemble
Anchor Bay High School, Jonathan Carrothers
Ann Arbor Huron High School Bands, Robert Ash
Appalachian State University, Jason Gardner
Arkansas School for Mathematics, Sciences, and the Arts Wind Ensemble, Dr. Cody A. Ford
California State University, Bakersfield, Leo Sakomoto
Friends University, Dr. Shawn Knopp
Greenville High School, Ann Reinhard
Illinois Wesleyan University Wind Ensemble, Logan Campbell
Marquette Senior High School, Emily Morgan-Booth
Missoula Hellgate High School, Jesse Dochnahl
Northeastern State University, Malcolm Burke
North Hills High School Bands, Len Lavelle and Lucas Beaver
Old Dominion University Bands, Tyler Austin and Zach NewCheever
Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Concert Band, Tonia Asel Kaufman
Port Huron Northern High School Wind Ensemble, Robert Krueger
President Theodore Roosevelt High School - Honolulu, Hawai'i, Gregg Abe
The Ohio State University Symphonic Band, Scott A. Jones
The University of Texas at Tyler, Alexander Scott
Washburn University, Anya Pogorelova
Watervliet High School Band, Jennifer Hollandsworth
Wilfrid Laurier University Wind Orchestra, Dr. Leah McGray
Whitefish High School Bands, Matthew King
Woodhaven High School Band, Bradley Faryniarz
Grade 3.5
Duration: ca 7'
Wind Ensemble Instrumentation
- Piccolo, 2 Flutes, 2 Oboes, 2 Bassoons, Contrabassoon (optional)
- 3 Clarinets in Bb, 1 Bass Clarinet in Bb, 1 Contrabass Clarinet in Bb (optional)
- 2 Alto Saxophones in Eb, 1 Tenor Saxophone in Bb, 1 Baritone Saxophone in Eb
- 3 Trumpets in B flat, 4 Horns in F, 3 Trombones, 1 Euphonium, 1 Tuba
- Timpani, 5 Percussion
- Piano (optional)
- Contrabass (optional)
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