Iditarod
(3rd Movement of "Portraits of the North")
Robert Buckley
Ensemble: Concert Band
Grade: 4
Duration: 05:45
Year of Composition: 2012
Commissioned by: West Vancouver Youth Band (Douglas Macaulay, director)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Year of Publication: 2015
Publisher Catalog Number: 04003163
Available: Yes
How to Acquire: Publisher, Purchase
Links:
Piccolo
Flute 1,2
Oboe 1,2
Bassoon
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 1,2,3
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Percussion 1 (Chimes, Medium Tom, Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Crash Cymbals)
Percussion 2 (Triangle, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Gong)
Mallet Perc. 1 (Xylophone, Vibraphone)
Mallet Perc. 2 (Marimba, Bells)
Timpani
Third movement of Symphony No. 1, Portraits of the North, commissioned by the West Vancouver Youth Band (Douglas Macaulay, director) to commemorate the band's 80th anniversary. The symphony is in three movements:
I. Arctic Fire
II. Land of the Midnight Sun
III. Iditarod
Program Notes:
The Iditarod Trail Dog Sled Race is an annual race across 1,049 miles of icy tundra and arctic wasteland. Between the Alaskan cities of Anchorage and Nome, jagged mountain ranges, dense alpine forests and windswept coastlines make the route some of the most challenging terrain in the world. This amazing feat of endurance was the inspiration for Iditarod. The piece opens with a loud, short burst from the brass being sustained by a very quiet chord from the woodwinds, creating the idea of sound disappearing into an immense frozen landscape. One by one the musher teams are introduced and the race is under way. Quietly at first, the rhythmic feel builds and builds over a relentless 9/8 pulse. In cinematic fashion, the point of view cuts from long-shots to close-ups – from the dog’s point of view to the eagle’s point of view – constantly moving forward. The terrain is challenging, the dogs are getting tired and then – over the next hill – a beautiful, icy landscape appears – a moment of reflection and rest. The music slows. A lyrical, reverent theme is introduced and develops – and then – back to the race! With renewed energy, the dogs race the final stretch, the music building and intensifying, until...the finish line!
(Robert Buckley)
