AUTUMN WINDS

Composed 2023 | Published At Bandworks Publications.

Duration: 3-4 minutes | Grade 2+ Concert Band

This work was in remembrance of my time in the Caldwell-West Caldwell School District, in the spring of 2023 as a temporary replacement high school band director. For four months I taught high school band and gave instrumental lessons at their elementary and middle schools. And my time there taught me valuable skills that I can bring to my future school. But most importantly, my students and staff, whom I got to work with for only a short period, reminded me how much I love teaching band and why I cherish instrumental music as an important means of expression.

So much so, that in such a rare moment, this idea for a new melodic work came easily to me, enough to write in only a few days before the end of my contract. I wanted to compose something that is accessible to my band’s level of playing, yet is still musically peaceful and meditative, with a tone-color that bids warmth and cordiality. And the colors of the fall season were just the right theme to embody them. The beginning harmonies, which follow through the piece, signify those colors of warmth and contribute to the tone of the music. While the main subject introduced by the clarinets represents the cordiality and friendships that we all would dream of, especially when we develop that sense of belonging to a group with the same affections or interests.

That same cordial sense of belonging was what I felt when I first joined the Caldwell-West Caldwell music department, and they (my students and staff) made me feel like I was part of a family, even for the short time that I had with them. So, it’s with tremendous pleasure that I dedicate this work to the James Caldwell High School’s band program and the band class of 2023 as my gift to show how much working with them as their music teacher has truly meant to me.

INSTRUMENTATION

Flute                                        Eb Baritone Saxophone                         Timpani

Oboe (opt. Flute 2)                    Bb Trumpet 1-2                                    Mallet Percussion: Bells

Bb Clarinet 1-2                         Horn in F                                              Percussion 1

Bb Bass Clarinet                       Trombone 1-2                                       Percussion 2

Bassoon                                    Euphonium

Eb Alto Saxophone                   Tuba

Bb Tenor Saxophone

Percussion 1: Bass Drum, Triangle, Wind Chimes, Claves

Percussion 2: Suspended Cymbal, 2 Wood blocks

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