Whistling in the Woods

Whistling in the Woods started from hearing a repeated bird whistle while camping in Wyoming. This theme introduces the piece in the flute with chimes ringing in the evening. The woodwinds maintain a light whimsical pattern. Short sixteenth figures dot the imagery in various instruments. The horn then proclaims the majestic of the beauty of dusk. The rolling energy is picked up by the snare drum and pushed to a bouncing triplet rhythm. A sweetness follows with a quarter note melody. This slowly fades into a lonely and mesmerizing middle section between a single alternating clarinet, vibraphone, and wood block. Previous themes come back in darker moods. The instrumentation then adds a few layers and textures at a time, combining previous musical ideas, to create a bright finish. Potential difficulty in rhythms and intervals. Opportunity for high trumpet and horn range in the first parts. Opportunity for several percussionists.