Serenade for Winds & Percussion

"Songs of the Night"

Serenade for Winds and Percussion seeks to faithfully recreate the spirit of the classical serenade of Mozart's time. Though it is not necessarily intended that the work be performed outdoors, the theme of the work deals with outdoor associations of the night.

Program Notes

Serenade for Winds and Percussion seeks to faithfully recreate the spirit of the classical serenade of Mozart's time. Since wind instruments could project better than strings, these serenades were often used for outdoor performances. Though it is not intended that the Serenade for Winds and Percussion be performed outdoors, the theme of the work deals with outdoor associations of the night.

The work is cast in five movements. The first, Journey Into Darkness, leads the listener into the exotic and mysterious aura of the night. Following the first movement is Apparitions which is a haunting scherzo-like depiction of the multitude of shadows cast on moonlit nights. The third movement, entitled Romance, is quiet and simple. One should picture a young man serenading his lover on a warm, starlit summer evening. In the fourth movement, Nocturnal Life-Forces, there transpires a march of all the living creatures that adorn the darkness of night. Finally, Journey Into Daylight brings the listener out of the darkness and into the reality of the new day with dramatic fanfare.

- David R. Gillingham

Grade Level: 6
Copyright: 2000
Duration: 18:15
Publisher: C. Alan Publications
Category: Concert Band

Listen to Recordings

Instrumentation

Flute/Piccolo
Oboe
Bb Clarinet
Bassoon
Trumpet 1
Trumpet 2
Horn 1
Horn 2
Trombone
Tuba

Percussion 1/Piano (piano, suspended cymbal, crash cymbals, triangle, bass drum, tam-tam, bells, chimes, log drums)
Percussion 2 (crotales, marimba, xylophone, timpani, vibraphone, cricket, temple blocks, crash cymbals)
Percussion 3 (bells, suspended cymbal, bass marimba, 6 tom-toms, anvil)