Grand and Rapid

As the title implies, the piece opens in a grand, expansive manner and builds into the rapid and raucous body of the work. Written to showcase the virtuosity of the woodwind section and the warmth of the brass section, Grand and Rapid gives all the ensemble members a workout from beginning to end.

Program Notes

In the spring of 2000, the Grand Rapids Symphonic Band chose to honor its previous director, Kennistan Bauman, by commissioning a new work for band that would premiere the following spring. Grand & Rapid was created for the GRSB to showcase the depth of the woodwinds' virtuosity and the rich, warm sound of the brass section. The trumpet, Ken's instrument, is used for the solo passages of the piece. The work uses a melody based on an arpeggio that is accompanied by an ascending and descending scale. The theme is state in a "grand" setting at the start, which then crescendos and broadens until it climaxes and breaks into the "rapid" vivace tempo that never relents. The trumpet states the theme in this fresh tempo followed by the development section, where the theme is fragmented and treated in various major and minor key centers. The melody finally returns augmented in whole notes and builds to a furious ending.

- David L. Wells

Grade Level: 4
Copyright: 2002
Number of Players: Standard
Duration: 7:50
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Category: Concert Band

Listen to Recordings

Instrumentation

Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bb Clarinet 3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Horn 1
Horn 2
Horn 3
Horn 4
Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium
Tuba

Timpani
Percussion 1 (snare drum, bass drum)
Percussion 2 (xylophone)
Percussion 3 (bells, marimba)
Percussion 4 (cymbals)