ZEPHYRS - (Duration 4:50) By Thomas C. Duffy

Published by Ludwig Music (SBS-353): 1992

Level: Middle School / High School

Commissioned by the Tiverton Middle School Band - Paul Anderson, Music Director, and the Rhode Island Music Educators Association

This programmatic concert band piece is based on the devastating experience of the people of Tiverton, Rhode Island when Hurricane “Bob” swept through their community in the Fall of 1991. It is written as a set of movements, each representing a specific phase of the hurricane, which are performed without break. The movements are “Breezes”: simple modal melodic material that slowly gains strength as the hurricane approaches; “Bells”: reflecting the sounds of the strong winds and surf driving the ocean to the breakwater; and the final movement “Bob”: the violent hurricane itself that eventually retreats back to nature with the sounding of crystal glasses played by the band members and a speaking part intoning “Soon, this storm will stop”. Zephyrs is a terrific middle school composition utilizing a variety of avant-garde techniques; a worth-while introduction to non-traditional compositional techniques. It is also a work with potential for cross-curriculum study (such as working in cooperation with your science faculty to learn how to predict and chart hurricanes) that could be easily accomplished to the benefit of your students.

GNOMON - (Duration 12:00) By Thomas C. Duffy

Published by Ludwig Music (SBS-391): 1995

Level: Advanced High School

Commissioned by Capital City Community Band - Rick Moreno, Director

Gnomon is the Greek word for the pointer of a sundial; exactly like the massive one erected at the Kentucky Veterans Vietnam Memorial in Frankfort, Kentucky. Laid in tribute to the 1074 Kentuckians killed in action in Vietnam the Gnomon at the memorial casts a shadow on every engraved name below it on the exact day that they were killed in action. The names of the 20 soldiers still listed as “missing in action” or “prisoners of war” are engraved outside of the reach of the Gnomon where the shadow will never fall.

“Gnomon” is just as programmatic as “Zephyrs”, but more complex in the way it weaves icons of subject material in almost every measure. In the words of the composer, “The musical materials represent the passing of time and the presence of death and incredible sadness.” Those musical materials include over-lapping motives like “Taps”, American folk songs, a 16th century death chant, and a motive based on the Greek word “Helios” (Sun).

The memorial is the design of Lexington architect and veteran Helm Roberts. “Gnomon” was commissioned by the Capital City Community Band with half of the royalties for this piece donated to the Kentucky Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc. by request of the composer. In addition to his duties as Director of Bands at Yale University Thomas Duffy has also found time to launch a new web page with additional background information on his other compositions, recordings, and a few MP3 sound files to download. Visit him at: www.duffymusic.com or e-mail him at: inquires@duffymusic.com

“Rainclouds” by Sidney Hodkinson - Published by Merion (Theodore Presser) from the Contemporary Music Project

Grade II: graphic notation, free meter and unspecified/flexible instrumentation.

“Three Pieces for Band” (1967) by Phillip Rhodes - Published by CCP Belwin

Grade III: 12 tone construction.

“Epinicion” (1972) by John Paulson - Published by Kjos

Grade III or IV: graphic notation, tone clusters, unspecified notation, open-ended and modulating glissando, beamed acclerandi and free meter. Written for expanded instrumental colors including an alto flute (doubled in other parts).

“Geographical Fugue” (1930) by Ernst Toch - Published by CCP Belwin

Grade IV due to the polyphony and rhythm: written for speaking chorus using the compositional techniques of fugue, stretto and augmentation. Quite a challenging piece to rehearse, but a wonderful vehicle to teach advanced rhythmic and ensemble awareness.

“Symphony No.1” (1978) by Daniel J. Bukvich - Published by Music Press of Idaho (208) 885-6111

Grade IV: graphic notation, vocalization, glissandi, proportional notation, unspecified pitch notation and modified percussion.