Growing up in the Midwest, the Winter months could be temperate or snowy. But nothing was more magical than getting up to see the newly fallen snow and checking the TV and Radio stations for those beautiful words "snow day." Some children returned to bed; others planned their exciting day without school. Playing outside, making snowmen and snow forts, having snowball fights, and sledding was a great way to spend the day off. Snow Day Rhapsody draws upon the memories of the cold winds, the sounds of snowflakes in the air, and the fun kids had on their day off. Snow Day Rhapsody can feature your principal or superintendent narrating two short passages, as shown below.
How the piece is structured:
mm 1-11 The first section, Hushed Waiting, depicts getting up early in the morning. It's dark and quiet, and everything outside is blanketed with snow. Occasionally we hear the sound of the blowing wind. Sitting in bed, we wait for the most important news of the day. NO SCHOOL, a snow day!
m 7 Narrator: "Good morning. This is (the administrator will say their name here) the superintendent (or another admin title) of (enter your school's name here). Due to inclement weather and road conditions, we will not be having school today. Enjoy your snow day!"
mm 12-23 Our mind starts racing and thinking about our adventures today!
mm, 24-31 With the sound of a car sliding down the road (trombone glissando), the kids head outside, building snow forts, making snow angels, and, of course, making snowballs. If you listen carefully, you might also catch the trumpets launching snowballs at the rest of the band as they play a "na na na na" phrase. 27. A little later, the French Horns, Tenor Saxophones, Trombones, and Baritones go sledding down the steep hill in town (mm. 28-29).
mm 32-35 The woodwinds make snow angles in the fresh light powder.
mm 36-39 The Brass interrupts the woodwind's angelic moment, launching a volley of snowballs. The woodwind retaliate (mm. 38-29)
mm, 40-47 In this section, the kids are back doing their things. The chaotic nature of this section depicts them having fun in the snow.
mm 48-55 This section serves as the start of the piece's conclusion, bringing back the original melody. This time, you might hear the flutes joining the low reeds and brass in sledding.
mm, 56-59 In this section, a cluster chord is formed as one note sustains as the others move downwards; the student has the option of holding on to a given note or moving. This section represents the weather getting worse as the snow picks up, resulting in........
mm 60-61 narrator: Well, It's getting Worse, No School Tomorrow!!!