Undercurrents
Robert Buckley
Ensemble: Concert Band
Grade: 5.5
Duration: 06:15
Year of Composition: 2016
Commissioned by: Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy (Cpt. Matthew Clark, director)
Publisher: Hal Leonard
Year of Publication: 2018
Publisher Catalog Number: 04004646
Available: Yes
How to Acquire: Publisher, Purchase
Links:
Piccolo
Flute 1,2
Oboe 1,2
Bassoon
B♭ Clarinet 1
B♭ Clarinet 2,3
B♭ Bass Clarinet
E♭ Alto Sax 1,2
B♭ Tenor Sax
E♭ Baritone Sax
B♭ Trumpet 1 (Flugelhorn)
B♭ Trumpet 2 (Flugelhorn)
B♭ Trumpet 3 (Flugelhorn)
F Horn 1,2
F Horn 3,4
Trombone 1,2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Percussion 1
Percussion 2
Mallet Perc.
Timpani
Commissioned by the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy, Lt.(N) Matthew Clark, commanding officer and director of music, in celebration of their 75th anniversary.
Program Notes:
Undercurrents provides a virtuosic showcase for the whole ensemble – featuring a series of solos, duets and trios, as well as highlighting the various chamber sections within the band. The music was inspired by watching schools of fish and flocks of birds perpetually moving with the ocean currents and air currents. Every once in a while a single solo shape will appear – or two or three – they dance apart for a moment and then are drawn back into the ensemble. In a cinematic style, the middle section invokes the vision of shapes moving in and out of shafts of light. It features a rich chorale interspersed with quick moving solo passages darting in and out of the lush texture. With one segment flowing into another, this composition develops organically – converging in a final climactic unison rush.
(Robert Buckley)
Festival Syllabus Lists
MusicFest Canada (2021-22): B600
