Foaming Sea

(2nd Movement of "The Seas of the Moon")

by
Robert Buckley

Ensemble: Concert Band

Grade: 4

Duration: 04:45

Year of Composition: 2018

Commissioned by: Michael Burch-Pesses

Publisher: Hal Leonard

Year of Publication: 2018

Publisher Catalog Number: 04005561

Available: Yes

How to Acquire: Publisher, Purchase

Links:

Web Page

Sample Audio

Perusal Score 

Instrumentation

Piccolo
Flute 1,2
Oboe 1,2
Bassoon 1,2
B♭ Clarinet 1,2,3
B♭ Bass Clarinet
E♭ Alto Sax 1,2
B♭ Tenor Sax
E♭ Baritone Sax
B♭ Trumpet 1,2,3
F Horn 1,2,3,4
Trombone 1,2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Percussion 1 (Bass Drum, Snare Drum, 2 Toms, Triangle)
Percussion 2 (Gong, Suspended Cymbal)
Percussion 3 (Ocean Drum, Triangle, Crash Cymbals)
Percussion 4 (Xylophone, Vibraphone, Bells, Crotales, Chimes)
Timpani

Second movement of Symphony No. 2, The Seas of the Moon, commissioned by Michael Burch-Pesses in celebration of his 20th anniversary as conductor of the Oregon Symphonic Band. The symphony is in four movements:

I. Sea of Tranquility
II. Foaming Sea
III. Sea of Clouds
IV. Serpent Sea


Program Notes:

Since the beginning of humanity we’ve been mesmerized by the moon. When our ancestors saw the dark spots on the moon they believed they saw a kind of formation similar to the Earth – they believed they saw seas. These seas were originally named by Giambattista Riccioli, a 17th-century Jesuit astronomer – we still use these names today. Four of these seas were chosen as a basis for this wind symphony. Because the names of these seas conjured up musical and visual images in my imagination, the music is cinematic in nature and designed to create an abstract impression of otherworldliness.

The image for "Foaming Sea" came from watching the ocean during a violent storm with waves exploding and crashing all around – however, the feeling was not that of fear but of excitement and exhilaration. Later on, after the surge of a huge wave, there is the calm after the storm – the turbulent darkness slowly gives way to light.

(Robert Buckley)