Forgotten Children
Peter Meechan
Ensemble: Wind Orchestra
Additional Performing Forces: Audio Track
Grade: 4
Duration: 05:00
Year of Composition: 2013
Commissioned by: Desert Winds (Chuck Maguire, conductor)
Premiered by: Desert Winds (Chuck Maguire, conductor)
Date of Premiere: February 28, 2015
Publisher: Peter Meechan
Year of Publication: 2015
Publisher Catalog Number: PMM115
Available: Yes
How to Acquire: Publisher, Purchase
Links:
Audio Track
Piccolo
Flutes 1,2
Oboe 1,2 (2nd opt.)
Bassoons 1,2 (2nd opt.)
E♭ Clarinet (opt.)
B♭ Clarinets 1,2
B♭ Bass Clarinet
B♭ Contrabass Clarinet (opt.)
E♭ Alto Saxes 1,2
B♭ Tenor Sax
E♭ Baritone Sax
B♭ Trumpets 1,2
F Horns 1,2
Trombones 1,2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Double Bass
Percussion 1 (Bass Drum, Suspended Cymbal)
Percussion 2 (Marimba, Vibraphone)
Percussion 3 (Marimba, Tubular Bells)
Adapted in 2015 by the composer from the original version for brass quartet/quintet/ensemble and audio track. Wind orchestra version dedicated to the Desert Winds and their conductor, Chuck Maguire.
Electronic accompaniment available for download from Peter Meechan Music.
Program Notes:
Content warning: War
Forgotten Children is a short work for wind orchestra and electronic accompaniment. Whilst conceiving the piece, the subject of the war in Syria dominated news headlines, specifically the refusal by Western nations to intervene. There were, of course, political reasons at the heart of the decision, complicated by a situation that no one understood in a country no one understands. The harrowing images of chemical weapons being used on children was seemingly not enough to persuade the West that their help was needed, but those silent voices fell on even deafer ears. They were, and still are, the Forgotten Children.
(Peter Meechan)
