Serpent Sea
(4th Movement of "The Seas of the Moon")
Robert Buckley
Ensemble: Concert Band
Grade: 4
Duration: 04:00
Year of Composition: 2019
Commissioned by: Michael Burch-Pesses
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Year of Publication: 2019
Publisher Catalog Number: 04005703
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 (3 Toms, Snare Drum, Bass Drum)
Percussion 2 (Gong, Triangle, Suspended Cymbal, Tambourine, Finger Cymbals, Kalimba)
Percussion 3 (Chinese Cymbal, Wood Block, Temple Blocks, Vibraslap)
Percussion 4 (Xylophone, Bells, Marimba)
Timpani
Fourth 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.
With "Serpent Sea" I wanted to create something animated, exuberant and somewhat over-the-top. I started with an image of a two huge winged serpents rising out of the waves and frolicking together in a wild, barbaric dance. The pair do, however, show a more graceful side every once in a while – represented by an exotic theme that starts in the clarinet and flute. This movement ends with a wild flurry as the serpents vanish back into the sea.
(Robert Buckley)
