Congratulations on being selected for the 2025 District II Middle School Honors Band! I wanted to write a quick note to introduce myself as your conductor for this year's festival. I've been teaching middle school band for the past twenty years and am currently a band director at Cape Elizabeth Middle School. I am truly honored to be your conductor and am really looking forward to working with you in January.
As a band director, one of the biggest challenges is selecting exciting, demanding (but appropriate), and inspiring music for our students to play. Not all music is created equal, so it is important that we select carefully. I believe that Dymaxion, Marching Song, On the Kerry Shore, and Byzantine Dances will allow us to experience a tremendous variety of musical styles, techniques and challenges. I am really passionate about ALL of the pieces that I have programmed, and I hope that you will share my enthusiasm or at least have an open mind. :)
I have no doubt that all of you will work extremely hard in preparing your music for the festival. Above, I've linked recordings, tempo markings, and practice notes for each of the pieces. Please use these recordings to help you in your preparation - listen to them as frequently as you can. It is my hope that we can come together in January and really make music. Again, I am so excited to be your conductor and I look forward to working with such a talented group of young musicians!
Caitlin Ramsey
Co-Director of Bands
Cape Elizabeth Middle School
VIDEO RECORDINGS
TEMPO MARKINGS AND PRACTICE NOTES
*If your school utilizes SmartMusic, Marching Song, On the Kerry Shore and Byzantine Dances can be accessed on SmartMusic.
Dymaxion - Quarter = 130
The renowned architect and inventor Buckminster Fuller coined the term "dymaxion" as a combination of Dynamic – Maximum – Tension. This short fanfare utilizes a continually rising scalar motive (like the Shepherd Tone), an oppressive percussion ostinato, and several interlocking polyrhythms to create a continuous crescendo to the final cadence. Check out the blueprint for the Dymaxion car invented by Buckminster Fuller.
As a band director, one of the biggest challenges is selecting exciting, demanding (but appropriate), and inspiring music for our students to play. Not all music is created equal, so it is important that we select carefully. I believe that Dymaxion, Marching Song, On the Kerry Shore, and Byzantine Dances will allow us to experience a tremendous variety of musical styles, techniques and challenges. I am really passionate about ALL of the pieces that I have programmed, and I hope that you will share my enthusiasm or at least have an open mind. :)
I have no doubt that all of you will work extremely hard in preparing your music for the festival. Above, I've linked recordings, tempo markings, and practice notes for each of the pieces. Please use these recordings to help you in your preparation - listen to them as frequently as you can. It is my hope that we can come together in January and really make music. Again, I am so excited to be your conductor and I look forward to working with such a talented group of young musicians!
Caitlin Ramsey
Co-Director of Bands
Cape Elizabeth Middle School
VIDEO RECORDINGS
TEMPO MARKINGS AND PRACTICE NOTES
*If your school utilizes SmartMusic, Marching Song, On the Kerry Shore and Byzantine Dances can be accessed on SmartMusic.
Dymaxion - Quarter = 130
The renowned architect and inventor Buckminster Fuller coined the term "dymaxion" as a combination of Dynamic – Maximum – Tension. This short fanfare utilizes a continually rising scalar motive (like the Shepherd Tone), an oppressive percussion ostinato, and several interlocking polyrhythms to create a continuous crescendo to the final cadence. Check out the blueprint for the Dymaxion car invented by Buckminster Fuller.
- While individual parts don’t look difficult, the polyrhythms and use of rhythmic diminution (in the low brass/woodwinds) can make or break this piece. Rhythmic accuracy and clarity of articulation are really important.
- Flute ostinatos (mm. 9-24) - be careful with the slurs - it’s better for this section to be even & tongued than slurred & uneven.
- Low brass and woodwinds - please be careful of rhythms in measures mm. 13-15, 21-22, 36-39, 47. They don’t look tricky, but they need to be 100% accurate!
- Mm. 40-43 - Fl, Cl, Bsn, A Sax, Tpt, Timp., Bells, Snare (accents)
- There are 6 very different rhythms layered in these four measures. Please pay special attention to your counting in this section. I’d recommend writing it in.
- M. 62 - we will slow down dramatically in the penultimate measure.
- Snare Drum -the accents are so important, but it also has to remain light.
Marching Song - Quarter = 112
Marching Song was written by British composer Gustav Holst in 1929. In the early 1900s, Holst started writing music for a new type of ensemble, the military band. Holst’s compositions helped convince other prominent composers that serious music could be written specifically for band. Also, doesn’t he look excited in this picture?
- This piece needs to be stately, but light.
- Groups of sixteenth notes in the Bsn, Bass Cl, T. Sax, Bari Sax need to be even and light
- Better to be tongued & even than slurred & uneven
- Use fast air to help support clean and crisp articulations.
- Key change and style change at M. 43!
- More legato style for everyone - except bass line
- Tuba, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon - quarter notes should be round and bouncy
- Lots of fermatas and rallentandos throughout - be prepared to look up and watch.
On the Kerry Shore - Quarter = 100 (yes, slower than marked)
This piece is a tribute to the beautiful harbor town in Ireland named Dingle. The piece begins with a steady percussion texture, meant to represent the placid seas with a cool morning breeze blowing in.
This piece is a tribute to the beautiful harbor town in Ireland named Dingle. The piece begins with a steady percussion texture, meant to represent the placid seas with a cool morning breeze blowing in.
- Percussion - you create the atmosphere for the entire piece - you need to sound steady, calm, and peaceful.
- This piece requires a lot of listening, air support, and sensitive playing - the music should always feel like it is gliding
Byzantine Dances - Quarter - 140 & 85
Byzantine Dances is meant to portray a set of Turkish Dances. The opening dance is fast and energetic written in the style of a Roma Dance. The slower middle section of the piece is written in the style of a Zeybek dance- which is often performed by a solo dancer symbolizing courage and heroism.
- This is such a fun piece to play - the opening and closing sections need to be light and bouncy. Fast air will help create cleaner articulations and closely controlled dynamics will prevent it from getting heavy.
- The middle section changes styles - it should be very connected
- Be ready to watch for the tempo changes!
