Congratulations on being selected for the 2023 District II Middle School Honors Band! I just 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 nineteen years and am currently the Director of Bands at Cape Elizabeth Middle School. I am truly honored to be your conductor and am really looking forward to working with you in February.
As a band director, I think 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 Dorchester, Salvation is Created, Escape from the Deep, and Dark Ride 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. I've linked recordings to all of the pieces below. Please use these recordings to help you in preparation- listen to them as frequently as you can. It is my hope that we can come together in February 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!
Mrs. Ramsey
RECORDINGS- Click the song title to access
Dorchester- Eric Osterling
Salvation is Created- Pavel Chesnokov/arr. Brown
Escape from the Deep- Brian Balmages
Dark Ride- Randall Standridge
TEMPO MARKINGS AND DETAILS
Dorchester
Quarter = 132
Salvation is Created
Quarter = 76
Escape from the Deep
mm. 1-18 Quarter = 60
mm. 19-88 Quarter = 150
mm. 89-106 Quarter = 60
mm. 107-end Quarter = 150
mm. 1-10 Quarter = 72
mm. 11-47 Quarter = 130
mm. 48- 51 Accelerando
mm. 52-end Quarter = 150
*If your school utilizes SmartMusic, Salvation is Created, Escape from the Deep, and Dark Ride can be accessed on SmartMusic.
As a band director, I think 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 Dorchester, Salvation is Created, Escape from the Deep, and Dark Ride 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. I've linked recordings to all of the pieces below. Please use these recordings to help you in preparation- listen to them as frequently as you can. It is my hope that we can come together in February 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!
Mrs. Ramsey
RECORDINGS- Click the song title to access
Dorchester- Eric Osterling
Salvation is Created- Pavel Chesnokov/arr. Brown
Escape from the Deep- Brian Balmages
Dark Ride- Randall Standridge
TEMPO MARKINGS AND DETAILS
Dorchester
Quarter = 132
- This march should sound bright, crisp, and punchy. Light, not loud.
- With the dotted eighth - sixteenth rhythm, there needs to be a slight lift (space) between the two notes and the 16th note must be staccato.
Salvation is Created
Quarter = 76
- We will be using quite a bit of rubato (ebb and flow of the tempo) in this piece- be ready to watch! Bringing out the moving notes of the inner/lower voices (2nd & 3rd clarinet, saxophones, horn, trombone, euphonium, bass clarinet, tuba) is so important in this piece.
- Russian Orthodox-style choral anthem that was composed in 1912. It was one of the last sacred works that Pavel Chesnokov composed before he was forced to turn to secular arts by the oppressive Soviet government. Although he never heard his own composition performed, Chesnokov’s children had the opportunity years following his death. The original work, written for eight voices, is based on a Kievan chant, which was developed in Eastern Ukraine.
Escape from the Deep
mm. 1-18 Quarter = 60
mm. 19-88 Quarter = 150
mm. 89-106 Quarter = 60
mm. 107-end Quarter = 150
- To play this piece well, I think that it is vital to know the background. This is a programmatic piece that chronicles the legendary tale of the World War II submarine The Tang. On its fifth patrol, the Tang and its crew were found under attack. During the attack, the Tang’s own torpedo turned around, hitting and sinking their own sub. Although 78 Americans were lost, somehow nine men escaped the destruction, treading water for over eight hours before being rescued.
- Beginning with dark chords and a military field drum, the music evokes thoughts of honor and integrity. As events unfold, the tempo becomes much faster and dissonant lines emerge. Can you hear the alarm bell and where the torpedo hits? Excerpts from America the Beautiful occur in various forms, first in adrenaline-packed moments, then in a brief moment of solitude and calm. The final burst of energy portrays the daring escape.
mm. 1-10 Quarter = 72
mm. 11-47 Quarter = 130
mm. 48- 51 Accelerando
mm. 52-end Quarter = 150
- In the faster sections, be sure there is a clear difference between tenuto and staccato articulations. Initially, work on these sections slowly to make sure articulations are clean!
- Trombones, make the glissandos at measures 48-51 as dirty as you can!
- Bassoon/Bass Clarinet/Bari Sax/Tuba/Bass Drum: You are the bus drivers (tempo keepers) of the piece- work on this with a metronome.
*If your school utilizes SmartMusic, Salvation is Created, Escape from the Deep, and Dark Ride can be accessed on SmartMusic.
