Will Whitten

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Nadia Boulanger was one of the most influential composers of the 20th century. She had many students, including Leonard Bernstein and Aaron Copland. After learning and studying Boulanger during my time in college within our Music History class, I found myself consistently inspired by her music.

Boulanger's Trois Pièces for cello and piano showcases her compositional style, with the first movement being an impressionistic work showcasing the musicality and delicacy the cello can produce. Wanting to program this piece for my senior recital as a bass trombonist, ultimately ending in choosing different repertoire, I found myself always turning back to this piece to listen, study, and generate my own material from. When approached about arranging a lyrical piece for band, the first movement of Boulanger's Trois Pièces for cello and piano, “Modéré,” was the piece I found myself wanting to bring forward into the band world to continue to highlight the music of Nadia Boulanger.

This arrangement was commissioned by the Flagstaff High School Symphonic Band directors in Flagstaff, Arizona. Dr. Richard McEnaney, the current director the Symphonic Band, along with Kaia Guscott, the director of the Concert Band.

Trois pieces for cello and piano: I. Modere - for wind band

Concert Band Score & Parts

"Dreidel Song," is one of the most recognizable Hanukkah tunes. Often this song is sung quickly, with a light up-tempo accompaniment, making the song a fun and cheerful tune that all ages can sing along with. This arrangement takes Dreydl Dreydl and sets it in a unique style with both a Polka and Klezmer style. Each section in the ensemble is featured in some way, providing all sections and students with the opportunity to perform musically both melodically and in accompaniment.

I HAVE A LITTLE DREYDL

"Freilach No. 1" is often a traditional klezmer piece that all klezmer bands around the world know. This piece was commissioned by the Sitka Fine Arts Camp in Sitka, Alaska. Dr. Stephen Meyer, the director of bands and assistant professor of music at Northern Arizona University, led the commission and directed the premiere of the piece during the SFAC High School Camp. "Freilach No. 1" often referred to as "Sher" or "Sherale," reflects the dance of two individuals moving in opposite directions, symbolizing the opening and closing motion of scissors.

This piece pays homage to the Klezmer tradition of "Freilach No. 1" through vibrant orchestration that captures the essence of the mischief of Klezmer's tone, technique, and style. The initial three measures called the doyne, serve as a fully improvised section, providing an opportunity for one, two, or many musicians to showcase their improvisational skills or introduce improvisation to those unfamiliar with it. Following the doyne, the piece showcases the low reed and the low brass sections with key clicks, air sounds, and trombone glissandos accompanying them. The main melody is played slowly, offering a distinctive touch to introduce klezmer into the concert band repertoire and provide musicians with a diverse experience in handling melodic material. The composition then transitions into a lively dance, briefly interrupted by a Flute and Tenor Sax solo accompanied by a low brass chorale. This interlude builds up momentum, accelerating into an even faster dance that culminates in an exciting end.

Freilach No. 1

"Dreidel Song," is one of the most recognizable Hanukkah tunes. Often, this song is sung quickly with a light, upbeat accompaniment, making it a fun and cheerful tune that all ages can sing along to. While the original setting of this song is exciting and uplifting, this arrangement adopts a slower approach, transforming the original into a more lyrical and choral-like style. 

This arrangement aimed to push myself in making an extremely recognizable tune and put it into a different context. With major inspiration from Percy Grainger’s “Colonial Song ” and “Irish Tune from County Derry,” I wanted to push a recognizable song to its limits.

With a slow introduction for both the woodwind and brass, to a fun middle section polka, providing an opportunity for performers to showcase versatility and style.

Dreidel Song

THRUWAYS is a Grade 3 concert band piece that explores a wide range of musical styles and textures, offering students the opportunity to shift performance styles within a single, cohesive work. With standard instrumentation and five unique percussion parts, the piece is designed to challenge young musicians while remaining accessible and rewarding to perform.

THRUWAYS opens with an intimate percussion duet, representing a fresh beginning. A recurring three-note motif is introduced early on and developed throughout, creating forward momentum and giving the piece a strong sense of direction. Midway through, the music shifts into a drum-and-bass-inspired section, adding rhythmic intensity and a more contemporary sound. This change reflects the title's reference to "thruways"fast-moving highways that symbolize life's chaotic and unpredictable pace.

As the piece returns to its opening theme, it offers a sense of reflection and resolution, highlighting the idea of growth through persistence and change. Inspired by a variety of musical influences, including the emotional depth of David Maslanka and the rhythmic energy of funk and jazz artist Louis Cole, THRUWAYS provides students with an engaging, stylistically varied experience that encourages both technical growth and expressive playing.

THRUWAYS

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Trois pieces for cello and piano: I. Modere - for wind band

I HAVE A LITTLE DREYDL

Freilach No. 1

Dreidel Song

THRUWAYS