Neoncore

‍COMPOSER'S NOTE

I Zoomed with Mitch Evett and Josh Murphy, the Rio Americano High School’s band directors in Sacramento, California, in December 2020 to discuss writing a flex piece for their students. After nine months of COVID isolation, I admitted to them that I just wanted to create something bright and sparkly, something that would have a glossy Instagram glow. I also wanted to write something that the students would call a “bop.”

Because the school was located in Northern California (the birthplace of Buchla synthesizers), I wanted the students to work with a simulated analog synthesizer. When we all Zoomed together with the students the next month, I demonstrated the modular synthesizer and introduced them to a red-paneled 16-step sequencer. “You’re going to pick sixteen notes together as a class,” I instructed. “I’m going to include this in your piece.” They, in turn, requested that I make the piece “crazy,” just like their band room during pre- pandemic times. What you will hear is a piece that uses the students’ sixteen-note sequence as a bass ostinato, which I tweaked to make it sound more “jazzy” and “funky.”

This piece is part of the collective work Suite Treats, which is a multi-movement adaptable piece with each one-minute micro movement written by a different composer (Balmages, Jolley, Meechan, Shapiro and Ticheli). The whole set is available for purchase here.

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‍TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

There is an optional (but highly suggested) FUNK TRACK that is downloadable here. If you use the accompanying track, you will need two high-frequency response stereo speakers positioned in the back of the ensemble far-left and far-right, and a two-channel playback device with stereo output for the track. Do NOT amplify the ensemble; the balance between the track and ensemble should be equal.

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Perusal score

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‍ENSEMBLE

Grade 3–4 FLEX (Band OR Orchestra) 💪🏻

Part 1: Piccolo/Flute, Oboe, B-flat Clarinet/B-flat Trumpet, Violin
Part 2: B-flat Clarinet/B-flat Trumpet, Alto Saxophone, Violin
Part 3: B-flat Clarinet/B-flat Trumpet, Alto Saxophone, Horn in F, Viola
Part 4: Tenor Saxophone, Horn in F, Bassoon/Trombone/Euphonium, Violoncello
Part 5: B-flat Bass Clarinet, Baritone Saxophone, Bassoon/Trombone/Euphonium, Tuba, Double Bass

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