About this work:
Fanfare was inspired by Brazilian brass bands. It was written for music students at the Sandy Spring Friends School in Maryland. This music has an exuberant spirit with samba rhythms churning under contemporary harmonic voicings. It is intended to be a short piece; however, the vamp at the end can be extended for a solo or collective improvisation. Another option is to have a percussion intro before the horn section enters with the opening chords. While Fanfare draws upon Brazilian music, it is in my own style. The recording is by David Arivett.
The mid-size ensemble score is for 5 wind instruments and rhythm section. The score uses flexible instrumentation. This enables the music to be played by many combinations of instruments. Unlike my other music for mid-size ensemble, the rhythm section is optional for Fanfare. In this way, the piece can be performed by woodwind or brass quintets, clarinet ensemble, or sax quartet/quintet as several possibilities. Additionally, it can be easily adapted for big bands and large ensembles by doubling players on parts so that each line has a distinctive blending of tone colors.
Suggested assignment of parts for a big band:
I -- 4 trumpets (open)
II -- clarinet, soprano sax
III -- alto sax, trombone (open)
IV -- tenor sax, trombone (cup), trombone (bucket)
V -- baritone sax, bass trombone (open) or tuba
My article on mid-size ensemble has more information about the concepts I used in this score:
www.rogeraldridge.com/mid-size-ensemble.html
Bands interested in playing Fanfare can contact me for score & parts.www.rogeraldridge.com/contact.html