Journey of Exploration

Journey of Exploration features appealing melodies with exciting rhythmic accompaniments that are presented in a fresh sounding work of style and substance.

Program Notes

Journey of Exploration was commissioned by the Boyd High School Concert Band, Kirsten Trachsel, director. The idea of the work takes its inspiration from the history of the band program at Boyd High School in Boyd, Texas. The band program has greatly improved through the efforts of excellent directors and students and is steadily gaining acclaim throughout the state. Directors and students understand that the current success the program is experiencing is due not only to their efforts, but also the struggle of their predecessors. Therefore, this piece is written as a musical depiction of a journey through several obstacles and hardships to arrive at the common goal of musical learning. The work begins slowly with a feeling of nostalgia and the path of the journey becomes clear. In the following fast section, the difficulties of the journey are portrayed by the use of unstable tonality and a combination of different meters such as 3/4, 6/8, and 9/8. The key finally settles on G major and the music reaches a strong resolution: a representation of the students realizing their potential and achieving great things together as a program.

Grade Level: 3
Copyright: 2008
Number of Players: Standard
Duration: 6:00
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Category: Concert Band

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Instrumentation

Piccolo
Flute 1/2
Oboe
Bassoon
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2
Horn in F
Trombone 1/2
Euphonium
(Baritone T.C.)
Tuba

Timpani
Percussion 1 (Suspended Cymbal, Bells, Snare Drum)
Percussion 2 (Wind Chimes, Bass Drum, Shaker, Suspended Cymbal)