Sea of Tranquility
(1st Movement of "The Seas of the Moon")
Robert Buckley
Ensemble: Concert Band
Grade: 4
Duration: 04:30
Year of Composition: 2018
Commissioned by: Michael Burch-Pesses
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Year of Publication: 2018
Publisher Catalog Number: 04005437
Available: Yes
How to Acquire: Publisher, Purchase
Links:
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 (Ratchet or Snare Drum, Bass Drum, Bongos, Cabasa, 2 Toms)
Percussion 2 (Suspended Cymbal, Finger Cymbals)
Percussion 3 (Triangle, Marimba)
Percussion 4 (Vibraphone, Xylophone)
Timpani
First 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 Sea of Tranquility is probably the best known of the Seas of the Moon because of its association with the American space program. There were two unmanned landings there in 1965 and 1967, followed by the famous landing of Apollo 11 in 1969, with Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin. The image I had in my mind for this movement was that of a weightless ballet that delves into the minds of the astronauts as they experience their epic journey into space – from the blast off, the feeling of weightlessness, the sense of awe and excitement, to the triumph and jubilation of the lunar landing.
(Robert Buckley)
