By Carl Nielsen / Edited by Wayne Gorder

Ludwig Music – SWO-395

Surviving decades of obscurity, this once forgotten work by Danish composer Carl Nielsen (1865-1931) has been revived thanks to the research of Wayne Gorder. The work was first performed on August 22, 1915 with Nielsen conducting. The North American premier was performed over 80 years later by the Kent State University Wind Ensemble on December 6^th, 1994. This new edition was extracted from a sketch score (three to four lines with instrumentation notated) obtained from the King’s Library in Copenhagen. Nielsen composed the work in commemoration of the sinking of the passenger liner Titanic on April 15^th, 1912. According to reports at the time the band on the Titanic played the chorale "Nearer My God To Thee" as the ship sank beneath the icy waters of the Atlantic.

This work is written in common time in the key of G major and only 49 measures long organized in three sections: 34 + 9 + 6 (codetta); approximately 4 minutes in length. The chorale theme is stated multiple times in the opening section (34 measures) followed by a tutti band statement combined with florid woodwind parts and percussion (9 measures) and ended with a small codetta including a timpani solo. Initial technical challenges include sextuplet figures in the woodwinds and the interpretation of grace notes in the chorale.

Originally written for wind orchestra this edition is playable with or without the added saxophone and euphonium parts (English horn and contrabassoon are optional while third clarinet doubles the second part). Percussion includes timpani, snare, cymbals, field drum, tam-tam and bass drum. Regardless of which version you choose it is well within the skill level of a high school or even middle school band. Of special interest are the beautiful trombone and french horn choir writing in the beginning of the work.

By Nolan E. Schmit

Kjos Music – WB204F

Grade 3.5

"Fanfare and Dance" was commissioned for the June, 1997 European tour of the Nebraska Ambassadors of Music, Don Johnson, music director. The work is organized into three sections of Eflat Major (60 measures), Dflat Major (54 measures) and Bflat Major (56 measures); approximately 4:45 minutes in length. The unique application of thematic material is what makes this work different than the normal A-B-A wind band work of recent years.

The alternation and variation of thematic material is extremely creative and unpredictable at times. The negative part of this compositional approach is that the alternating themes are rarely developed for any appreciable length of time. To balance this style the work is tied together as a loose rondo form with the opening fanfare returning at important sections during the work. Mixed into this is a variety of multi-meter time signatures including 7/8 (2+2+3), 6/8, and common times judiciously arranged to allow for a range of rhythmic patterns.

Musical independence of each voice is an absolute necessity with a well-written and transparent fugal section highlighting the woodwinds. Trumpet range extends to written Bflat and C above the staff and the writing for horn is more challenging than expected. Percussion includes timpani, chimes, xylophone, cymbals, snare, bass drum, tambourine, claves, and woodblocks. Published as a grade 3.5 piece it would be just as worthwhile for younger high school bands to help develop their technical skills in a challenging musical framework such as "Fanfare and Dance".